Vermont’s Governor Peter Shumlin signed the first “no strings attached” GMO labeling bill earlier this month, making it the third state to enact such a law. California was going to make it the fourth. After signing the bill he told supporters, “Vermonters have spoken loud and clear. They want to know what’s in their food.”
California’s GMO labeling bill, SB1381 was defeated by two votes in the state senate on Wednesday. This is the second time Californians tried to get GMOs labeled. Why did the law pass quickly in Vermont and not California? We Californians can speak just as “loud and clear” as people from Vermont.
In fact, Californians have been telling state representatives to label GMO food for a long time, but apparently our voices are being drowned out by the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Big Ag and the chemical/biotech companies, like Monsanto whispering in their other ear. Major corporations are paying big money to keep things just the way they are. A secret.
Senator Noreen Evans, who authored the bill, had this to say, “I am disappointed that California consumers’ #RightToKnow what is in their foods was defeated by a mere two votes in the Senate. Nonetheless, we have enlivened supporters and educated the masses and the issue will only move forward with more enthusiasm. Californians support #GMO labeling and an overwhelming majority of Americans demand the same. I look forward to the day when informed consumer choice is recognized not just in California, but in the United States as it is in 64 other countries around the world.”
D’Marie Mulattieri, field organizer at California Clean Money Campaign, believes the loss has to do with the size of our economy. ” We must remember that California has the 8th largest economy in the world. Naturally, the transnational corporations, like Monsanto and other biotech firms will do everything possible to prevent GMO labeling in California. It was sad to see the measure fail by just two votes, however, that in itself is good news. With a bit more education we will eventually get the labeling needed to protect ourselves and those we love from food that is grown with a technology that has no long term safety testing.”
Are you fed up with being ignored by those who pledged to be a “public servant”? Here’s your chance to tell them what you think and please, give them an “earful.”
These senators voted “no.” They do not believe you, as Americans have the right to know what you are feeding your family:
Joel Anderson (R) (916) 651-4036
Tom Berryhill (R) (916) 651-4014 (This is the same guy who was busted for money laundering. Why is he still in office?)
Marty Block (D) (916) 651-4039
Anthony Cannella (R) (916) 651-4012
Jean Fuller (R) (916) 651-4018
Beth Gaines (R) (916) 319-2006
Cathleen Galgiani (D (916) 651-4005
Ed Hernandez (D) (916) 651-4024
Jerry Hill (D) (916) 651-4013
Bob Huff (R) (916) 651-4029
Mike Morrell (R) (916) 319-2040
Jim Nielsen (R) (916) 651-4004
Andy Vidak (R) (916) 651.4016
Mimi Walters (R) (949) 235-2078
Mark Wyland (R) (916) 651-4038
Food Store lobbyists gave money to these senators. They are in the Top Ten list:
Mimi Walters $24,000
Tom Berryhill $18,000
Ed Hernandez $13,000
Bob Huff $11,000
Cathleen Galgiani $8,000
Food & Kindred products manufacturing gave money to these senators. They made the Top Ten list:
Mimi Walters $8,000
Bob Huff $8,000
Anthony Cannella $5,500
Food & Beverage products and services donated to these Top Ten candidates:
Jim Nielsen $26,000
Tom Berryhill $15,000
Ed Hernandez $9,000
Mimi Walters $7,000
Jerry Hill $5,500
It’s obvious we can’t count on government to do the right thing BUT we can boycott those food companies who are fighting hard to NOT label GMOs. Every time you shop for food you can choose GMO free products. Look for the NON-GMO Verified Project seal on the front of the label. 
More and more stores are carrying NON-GMO Verified because the only people store managers care about is YOU — their loyal customer. Big business lobbies our representatives, but YOU can lobby for your family. YOU have the power of the purse in your household. Tell your store manager, you will shop elsewhere if he doesn’t provide foods you want to buy. Then put your money where your mouth is. Support companies who sell organic and GMO free. Grocery stores are highly competitive and they will provide foods you want to buy in order to keep you coming back.
If you want more information about NON-GMO Verified products you can visit their website. They have a growing list of companies choosing to do the right thing.
We may have lost this battle, but we are winning the war!
Great coverage Inge. The GMO Free movement has been working very hard in California to get labeling and it is very frustrating indeed to see the bill defeated in the state Senate by just two votes.
I would like to mention that my quote reflects my personal opinion and does not represent the opinion of California Clean Money Campaign, whose main focus is getting money out of politics. Clearly the issue of getting money out of politics is a non-partisan issue with 84% of Californians wanting full disclosure on election campaign advertising and to date, over 50 cities/counties passing resolutions to overturn Citizens United.
We have to wonder if these same Senators that voted NO on SB 1381, would still vote no if they did not depend on these food corporations to fund their election campaigns. I mean, really, they and their families eat too!
California Clean Money Campaign is the sponsor of SB 52, the California DISCLOSE Act that will require the top three original funders to be displayed on election campaign advertising. It passed the state Senate last year with the required 2/3 majority. We anticipate it being considered by the Elections Committee in the state Assembly this June. Once it passes out of the Elections and Appropriations committee it will be taken to the Assembly floor for what we hope to be a bi-partisan 2/3 majority YES vote. CCMC also supports SB 1272, the Overturn Citizens United Act which just passed the state Senate this past week and AJR1 that calls for an Article V Constitutional Convention for the SOLE purpose of passing a 28th amendment to overturn Citizens United.
You left Lou Correa out of your list. He was a “No” vote.
So now we know what he gets to wash down with his “Fullerton Frackable” tap water!
Of course Correa voted no. I knew Correa was a snake 3 years ago. This is his contact number (916) 651-4034
16 voted no. You left out Knight (R). Galgiani is a Democrat. So it looks like Mimi Walters got the most money from the food industries.
I didn’t include Knight, Yee or Caldron (all voted no) since they are suspended and should be thrown out on their asses. Why do they get to vote on anything? Why suspend them if they get to participate anyway? I’m betting they get paid as well.
Wright, Yee, and Calderon are all suspended from the Senate for demonstrated or strongly suspected illegalities. They didn’t vote. But because you need 21 affirmative votes, a suspended seat is as good as a “no” vote. If they were removed, I think (not entirely sure) that that would drop it down to 19 needed for a majority of the 37 filled seats.
So there’s your cost of corruption — except that it may be that had they needed only 19 votes, one of the other Dem Senators who voted “no” on fracking would have flipped, and they’d have lost with 18 Ayes. It’s crazy-making.
Your article is self-contradictory. If you can choose non-Gmo products by looking for the Non Gmo Verified (or organic) label, then you do not food the rest of the food products to be labeled
So sad, just like blowing the first two years of Barrie’s roll and losing 2010. If only the Dems had party discipline!
Organizationally, the Red alternative is a Central Committee -driven kleptocracy, with outcroppings of antiquated Freikorps loonies!
*Very disappointing….the votes of Bob Huff and Mimi Walters …..so sad. Will cost them
both dearly. Maybe not in this election but the next one for sure…..and that is what they
are banking on…..no pun intended. If this was a bill on Red Light Cameras………you could smell the fur burning for miles. This vote……very inappropriate and certainly thinking that Toll Roads are for the elitist few and GMO’s are for the proletariat……without campaign contributions. Stupid politics happens all the time. This was on of those votes that determines that these folks cannot be trusted….EVER! Too bad, we were pulling for Mimi……but not now!
These folks have NO reasonable argument as to why they voted against this bill:
Marty Block (D) (916) 651-4039
Anthony Cannella (R) (916) 651-4012
Jean Fuller (R) (916) 651-4018
Beth Gaines (R) (916) 319-2006
Cathleen Galgiani (D (916) 651-4005
Ed Hernandez (D) (916) 651-4024
Jerry Hill (D) (916) 651-4013
Bob Huff (R) (916) 651-4029
Mike Morrell (R) (916) 319-2040
Jim Nielsen (R) (916) 651-4004
Andy Vidak (R) (916) 651.4016
Mimi Walters (R) (949) 235-2078
Mark Wyland (R) (916) 651-4038
*They all need to be known for what they are …….forever!
You forgot Lou Correa.
There’s always “it’s a crap policy that doesn’t advance consumer protection”!
If you want to avoid GMOs, buy organic. It’s already that easy.
It’s not that easy. I’m epileptic and not permitted to drive, local Raley’s is where I have to do most of my shopping just due to transportation issues.
Their organic selection is not what it is at other grocery stores I can’t get to.
Thanks for this article Inge. I just ran into this awesome new fb page called ‘You Poked the Bear’, which has been set up to expose the senators who voted ‘no’ and killed our labeling bill! This will be awesome to share especially near election time to get these corrupt slimeballs voted OUT! They are making individual memes for each senator.
Share it around! http://www.facebook.com/YouPokedtheBear