Following an outpouring of opposition from thousands of citizens, religious leaders, defenders of free speech and people working against animal cruelty, TN governor Bill Haslam just vetoed HB1191/SB1248 — aka ag-gag bill, aka anti-whistleblower bill, aka total BS legislation. Good work, anti-ag-gag agitators! And well done, Governor Haslam!
There’s been a massive outcry from divergent groups against TN’s ag-gag bill, which passed the legislature and landed on the governor’s desk last Friday. The governor will either veto the bill or allow it to become law by Monday of next week. Now TN’s Attorney General Robert Cooper has chimed in against the bill, calling it constitutionally questionable.
The Humane Society’s Matt Dominguez, who so graciously joined us in Episode 5 of the Progressive Kitch podcast to discuss ag-gag legislation, was featured on the front page of the New York Times this week. He helps explain the terrible effect these laws would have, especially the provisions calling for evidence of cruelty to be turned over within 24 or 48 hours:
“Undercover workers cannot document a pattern of abuse, gather enough evidence to force a government investigation and determine whether managers condone the abuse within one to two days, said Matt Dominguez, who works on farm animal protection at the Humane Society of the United States. ”Instead of working to prevent future abuses, the factory farms want to silence them,” he said. ‘What they really want is for the whistle to be blown on the whistle-blower.’ The Humane Society was responsible for a number of undercover investigations, including the videos of the Wyoming pig farm and the Tennessee walking horses.”
It’s encouraging to see such a widely-read mainstream publication take note of this potentially devastating legislation. Good work, Matt!
Image credit: Creative Commons photo by avlxyz.
There’s a secrecy craze sweeping the nation right now, fueled by the animal-ag industry’s deep lobbying pockets: bills pending in 10 states would criminalize whistleblowers and undercover investigators at animal facilities, towards the ignobal goal of protecting criminal abusers and mandating consumer ignorance. Cheryl Leahy (COK) and Mathew Dominguez (HSUS) join us for an in-depth discussion of what ‘ag-gag’ means, and why it matters — and most importantly, what you can do to resist!
We cover some serious ground this week, so buckle up and hang on! HSUS offers a Congressional report card, on ag legislation affecting animal treatment. We embrace a diverse food ethics community, then throw stuff deliciously about the kitchen (recipes included!). Dawn cooks for vegan hounds. Food industry inches towards federal GMO labeling — but don’t get too excited, rotten motives may be in play. And we’re tickled to announce our first cookbook giveaway — comment to enter!