FARMER PROTECTION ACT OUT OF COMMITTEE
This morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted the Farmer Protection Act out of the committee with a 5-1 vote. It is now on its way to the Senate floor, for a vote by the full senate next week, probably on Tuesday.

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WE NEED YOU TO SEND A NOTE TO YOUR SENATOR!
Most of the Senators are ready to vote YES on this bill when it comes to the senate floor, and they will be lobbied hard this week by the industry. WE NEED YOU TO LET YOUR SENATORS KNOW YOU WANT THEM TO VOTE YES ON THE BILL AS IT IS!

Here's what to do:
Write a note, TODAY and mail it to your senators, so they receive it at home this weekend!
You can find out who your senators are, and what their addresses are here: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/districts.cfm?Body=S
In your note, ask your senators to VOTE YES on S.18, and VOTE NO to any amendments offered on the bill. Thank them for their support so far, and encourage them to stand strong for Vermont's farmers!
DO NOT CALL your senators - we want them to have a nice weekend and enjoy themselves, and get LOTS of nice notes in the mail! You don't have to write alot, but DO WRITE! It's really important!
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We have won a major victory with this vote - winning on a major challenge to the bill's language. Senator Wendy Wilton made every effort to limit or remove entirely the strict liability our bill would create on the biotechnology corporations for their products. But, SHE LOST! The other senators on the committee stood strong and stood up for farmers. Senator Wilton might try to offer amendments on the Senate floor, so your NOTES (see above) are very important!

During the discussion, Senator Wilton said that she thought that this bill would create an opportunity for farmers to get contaminated on purpose so that they could sue the biotechnology corporations. Luckily, this idea was so ridiculous that it did not sway anyone in the room.

One piece of the bill was removed - the "patent infringement" section. Unfortunately, a professor from the Vermont Law School sent a memo to the committee saying that Vermont could not use this language, and the committee decided to take the language out. There is still a possibility that we could put it back in on the House side, but it will be a fight.

Still, all in all, this bill is strong and protects Vermont farmers. It gives a clear cause of action for anyone who suffers economic injury because of genetically engineered seeds, and it sets an important precedent, saying that we will not accept the corporations' attempt to put liability onto the farmers.
SPECIAL CALL TO CHITTENDEN COUNTY
If you live in Chittenden County and you are willing to help out with the Farmer Protection Act, please call Linda at 802-223-7222 or email ruralvt2@sover.net. We especially need volunteers from South Burlington and Colchester. There are many levels of involvement that would be helpful, from making ONE phone call to setting up a table with a Sugar Shak Action Pak. We can tailor the activity to the amount of time you have available!