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proverbialwisdom

(4,959 posts)
Fri Apr 11, 2014, 04:30 PM Apr 2014

CT House Mows Down Bill Banning GMO Grass Seed.

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-gmo-bill-house-votes-down-0411-20140410,0,4314841.story

House Mows Down Bill Banning GMO Grass Seed

By GREGORY B. HLADKY
The Hartford Courant
6:48 p.m. EDT, April 10, 2014


HARTFORD — A bill to ban genetically modified grass seed before it arrives in Connecticut hit a wall of opposition in the state House Thursday, going down to defeat despite warnings that GMO seeds could bring a dangerous wave of toxic herbicides here.

The resounding defeat of the legislation, with only 37 lawmakers in favor to 103 against, was remarkable not only for the bipartisan nature of the opposition.

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Cook warned the proposed prohibition on GMO grass could hurt Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, which is developing the seed. The company is planning on marketing a grass seed immune to Monsanto's popular weed-killer Roundup, a herbicide that has as its primary ingredient glyphosate. Use of this type of GMO grass would mean Roundup could be sprayed all over lawns and fields, killing everything but the grass itself.

Cook said Scott has $27.5 million in sales in Connecticut, and employs 226 people in this state. "For me, this (bill) is just not good business," she said.

Supporters of banning Scott's GMO seeds before they arrive said their concerns were focused on potential damage to human health and the environment from increased pesticide and herbicide use.

Rep. Mary M. Mushinsky, D-Wallingford, said the herbicide glyphosate is recognized "as a hazardous material… It does cause health problems that include birth defects and various types of cancer."

Mushinsky said scientists have determined that 14 different types of weeds already have developed a resistance to glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup, forcing industry to develop even more toxic herbicides.

Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, D-Westport, said the industry is already working on a derivative of the infamous Vietnam War defoliant Agent Orange to deal with herbicide-resistant weeds. "I'm not so sure we want Connecticut to become known as the Agent Orange State," Steinberg said.

Courant staff writer Christopher Keating contributed to this story.


http://gmofreect.org/house-puts-politics-over-policy-we-deserve-better/

House Puts Politics Over Policy – We Deserve Better

THE HOUSE PUTS POLITICS OVER POLICY – WE DESERVE BETTER

Wednesday night the Senate passed SB 443, a bill to ban genetically engineered grass seed, on a bipartisan vote of 25-11. This seed threatens the integrity of our organic farms and will lead to an escalation of pesticide use. Our supporters understand we need to stop this threat before it takes root in Connecticut. We are grateful to the Senate.

Unfortunately, all of that was undone when the CT House Leadership prematurely called the bill for a vote in order to kill it before our voices could be heard. We all remember what happened last year. The Senate passed a strong GMO labeling law that was then squashed by the House in the middle of the night. But, we did not give up then and we will not give up now. Click Here to read our (April 10) public statement about what happened in the House.

For many of us, this feels a bit like a déjà vu. We need to remind Speaker Sharkey and the legislators who voted against protecting the health of the citizens of our state that it is not without consequence. These politicians put politics and corporate interests above public health and we cannot tolerate it.

Please join with us today as we elevate our collective voice and hold our elected officials accountable. This is an election year and they have to care what you think.

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CT House Mows Down Bill Banning GMO Grass Seed. (Original Post) proverbialwisdom Apr 2014 OP
Indefatigable, a GIF for every committee and bill. My bet is on these great activists. proverbialwisdom Apr 2014 #1
, blkmusclmachine Apr 2014 #2

proverbialwisdom

(4,959 posts)
1. Indefatigable, a GIF for every committee and bill. My bet is on these great activists.
Fri Apr 11, 2014, 04:41 PM
Apr 2014
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/Pesticide.children.dontmix.pdf

A BEYOND PESTICIDES Fact Sheet: Children and Pesticides Don't Mix


http://gmofreect.org
https://www.facebook.com/GmoFreeCt


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