Morris: HB 119 update and federal beef labeling support
The Montana Cattlemen’s Association would like to give another update on legislative action concerning cattle taking place in Montana during this legislative session. The main cattle oriented legislation is HB119, the newly added state cattle checkoff and a resolution in the Senate attempting to support Senator Thunes new mandatory national Country of Origin Labeling bill called the American Beef Labeling Act.
The proposed Montana Checkoff Bill labeled HB119 which will be a mandatory $1.00 per head tax collected by brand inspectors and auction markets has been tabled after entering the Senate Ag Committee on March 20th. When the Bill entered there was a good deal of testimony given. There were at least 3 times as many opponents as proponents. An amendment by the Lieutenant Governor’s office after the bill had barely passed the final House vote really caused a controversy as it was revealed right before the hearing in the Senate. Opponents had a brief amount of time to rewrite their statements adding opinions about this amendment. Internet connected cell phones can be a great tool providing up to date information instantly anywhere there is Wi-Fi.
Opponents who spoke that day included several agriculture organizations, individual ranchers, tribal representatives and even a remote feed from a cattle rancher in North Dakota who gave his opinions about the North Dakota added checkoff.
The main consensus was that this had become a Governor controlled arm of the Montana Department of Livestock and that there would not be a level playing field for all Montana producers to participate. The North Dakota rancher also warned us that this had happened there as well.
There is still a remote chance that this could be forced onto the floor of the Senate for a floor vote. Should that vote pass, the bill would have to re-enter the House with all of its new amendments and start the process all over again. There probably is not enough time in this session to get this bill to the referendum stage because of all the added amendments.
On April 3rd a new Senate resolution (SJ 25) entered the Montana Senate Ag Committee sponsored by Senator Willis Curdy. If passed, SJ 25 will direct our Federal Montana Congressional delegation to vote in support of the American Beef Labeling Act that will be introduced into the US Senate by South Dakota Republican Senator John Thune. The Montana Cattlemen’s Association is fully in favor of this resolution and have testified along with many other groups that are also in favor. There was only one ag group in Montana that testified against this resolution. After testimony it passed in the Senate Ag Committee with a 6 to 5 vote. It is now scheduled to go to the Senate for a floor vote on April 4th at 1:00 PM.
Ken Morris, Montana Cattlemen’s Association
