News

Yes, the Governor actually vetoed the raw milk bill, as opposed to just not signing it. CREMA has sent out a detailed announcement along with lots of great links from all along the way, and asks that we all stay active and in touch with our representatives and stores about this issue. My first thought is the legislative support was as strong as they say, the numbers should be available to override the Governor's veto. Should. The whole thing follows: (AuLait)
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SB 201 Vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger

Our fight for raw milk in CA continues…

We admit we have not been posting for a while because Sen. Florez's new bill seemed like a solution. However, the bill still has to make it through the legislature! And CDFA and FDA are likely to oppose. They are heavy hitters and we need to organize all over again for this new phase. Please read the attached and contact Health Committee members right away, then show up at the hearing and testify! Thank you -- AuLait

FDA THREATENING RAW MILK IN U.S., STARTING IN CALIFORNIA

Thanks to the Complete Patient blog, we now know that the producers have started failing their coliform tests often enough to bar them from selling some of their product. Since there are monetary damages, they have been able to file for a restraining order. That request will be heard Wed 3/12 at 1:30. It's suggested we call CA's Atty General Jerry Brown at (916) 322-3360 and/or Nicole Parra at (916) 319-2030 about this. See the CP post/comments for more:

http://www.thecompletepatient.com/journal/2008/3/7/ca-raw-milk-sales-cou...

Yes, we are back to the 1735 standard since Nicole Parra pulled 1604 from the process. However, access will not be shut down overnight -- it will take months, and during that time, there will be a process taking place. In fact, one is taking place now, but all of it is behind closed doors at the moment. Keep checking back at the Complete Patient blog, and here, and stay awake! Thank you! -- AuLait

Finally we can post an up-to-date version of the text of AB1604 -- however, we have to post it as a link. If we copy and paste the text, we lose the all-important strikethrough and italics that show deletions and insertions.

Anyone who wants to check up on the status at any time can go to http://www.leginfo.ca.gov and use the bill search function (choose Assembly and enter 1604).

Here's the text as of 1/22:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1601-1650/ab_1604_bill_2...

WE ARE ENDING THE EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE HEARING WHICH WAS TO BE HELD ON THE 24TH -- BUT WAS NOT. PLEASE SEE THE UPDATE ABOVE. -- AuLait

SRM received this email early this morning, 1/24. It indicates an emergency situation. Please read and respond appropriately! Please distribute to friends, mailing lists, etc.! Thank you! -- AuLait
P.S. Another version from the producers is here:
http://organicpastures.cmail4.com/e/326608/0jdtt46l/
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Date: January 23, 2008 11:08:46 PM PST

The Sacramento Bee published a good article on Saturday:

http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/646503.html

The Complete Patient blog has done two stories since the hearing, and the comments there are almost a community bulletin board for the raw milk movement -- plus the blog does excellent coverage of related issues all over:

http://www.thecompletepatient.com

SRM has realized that the link shown below DOES NOT link to a version of the bill that contains changes made during the hearing on Wed. 1/16. This version is from 1/14, prior to the hearing. It is the most recent version of the bill available online at the California legislature's site, but it is not the most recent version of the bill in existence. As soon as the new text becomes available, we will link to it here. Sorry if this caused others any confusion, as it did for us. -- AuLait

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_1601-1650/ab_1604_bill_2...

This email was just sent to supporters.

It is confusing that the compromise bill specifies a standard of 50 coliforms/ml will be enacted in July, but also says that research will be done to determine what the standard should be. I understand there was a need to compromise in order to keep the flow of raw milk from being cut off entirely, but am not sure whether we are locked in to the 50 standard or not. If we are, there's no reason to have six months to study the problem. It seems like both are features of the bill for now. -- AuLait

So far post-hearing updates and reports are showing up in the comments thread at the Complete Patient blog:

http://www.thecompletepatient.com/journal/2008/1/17/with-nearly-1000-at-...

Crowd estimates are now ranging widely from several hundred to nearly a thousand, but it sounds like it was a very good showing and a spirited hearing nonetheless.

Here's Mark McAfee's (Organic Pastures) comment from that thread (reproduced in full):

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