FARMER PROTECTION ACT PASSES SENATE FOR 2ND READING!!
ANOTHER IMPORTANT VOTE ON TUESDAY!!!
YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED!!!

The Farmer Protection Act has cleared another hurdle in the Vermont Senate. It passed the full senate today on a voice vote for 2nd reading. This means there is just one more vote in the senate, and then the bill will go on to the House for consideration. THANK YOU to all who turned out for the vote today on VERY short notice. We had 30 Vermonters present for the debate and vote - matching the senators 1-for-1. YOUR ACTION made a difference!!!

The full story is below, in the form of a press release sent out this afternoon. The bottom line is YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW to help keep this bill alive and intact!

Here's what to do:
SEND A LETTER TO YOUR SENATORS! If you have not already done so, send a note to your senators TODAY or SATURDAY so they get it before Tuesday's vote.

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 on the liability section of the bill. Particularly, oppose the "IS/MAY BE" Wilton-Starr amendment. Be sure to include your name and town in your note. Send your note in the MAIL - not all senators check their email on the weekends.

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!

Here's the down low on what happened today:
MONTPELIER, VT -- With thirty concerned farmers and other Vermonters listening closely, the Vermont Senate today debated and then passed on a voice vote the Farmer Protection Act (s.18), which puts liability for genetically engineered seeds and plant parts on the manufacturers and establishes Vermont jurisdiction and venue for seed contract disputes. This vote was for "second reading," and the bill must still be voted on for final passage next week before being sent to the House for consideration.

While reporting out the bill for the Agriculture Committee, Senator Jeanette White (D-Windham) explained that genetic engineering is different from traditional breeding. "It is not a natural process," she clarified. She also noted that the genetically engineered trait is the dominant gene, adding, "We all remember our 9th grade biology class, learning about blue eyes and brown eyes."

Senator John Campbell (D-Windsor), reporting for the Judiciary Committee, explained that the bill is very simple. He shared copies of the Monsanto Technology Use Agreement with the senators and pointed out that if the farmer growing genetically engineered crops has any problem with the crops, the company is only liable for the cost of one bag of seed. Yet, if someone else suffers an injury, the farmer is liable for any of the damages because of the terms of the contract. "We're trying to level the playing field," he concluded.

Before the senate vote, the Judiciary Committee met with three senators from the Agriculture Committee, who were offering an amendment to the bill. Senators Bobby Starr (D-Essex/Orleans), Harold Giard (D-Addison), and Wendy Wilton (R-Rutland), who is also a member of the Jucidiary Committee, proposed an amendment that would eliminate some of the provisions of the definition of injury, re-insert part of the protection for farmers against patent infringement liability, and significantly limit the liability of the manufacturers of the genetically engineered seeds. Ed Miller, a representative for Monsanto, indicated that his client was not yet ready to comment on the proposal. Steve Kerr, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, said he thought the changes improved the bill. Advocates of the original language indicated they were willing to compromise by supporting the definition change and the inclusion of the patent infringement protection. However, Amy Shollenberger, policy director for Rural Vermont indicated, "We cannot support limiting the liability."

Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Sears (D-Bennington) suggested the three senators divide the amendment into two pieces and take it back to the Agriculture Committee. The Judiciary Committee voted 5-1 to support the definition change and re-insertion of the patent infringement protection, but voted down the change that would limit the liability, 1-5.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Sara Kittell (D-Franklin) indicated on the senate floor that she would take up the amendments on Tuesday morning before third reading of the bill. The controversial liability amendment is expected to fail on the senate floor, and the full bill is expected to pass on Tuesday.

"Today went really well for us," Shollenberger explained to the red-clad crowd after the vote. "Our senators stood strong for farmers today. We should be sure to thank them an encourage them to vote down the Wilton-Starr amendment on Tuesday, and vote yes on the Farmer Protection Act."
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We have not been able to get copies of the amendments to post, but if you want to see the language, you can come to the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing at 8 am on Tuesday morning.