Two agricultural items and another jab at Barletta

1.  Local farm products in school meals

We sometimes forget that it is not just the large policies that change when a president is elected.  Changes also occur way down in the bureaucracy.  Last week the Department of Agriculture undersecretary Kevin Concannon said that the Department’s child nutrition programs are implementing rules that will encourage schools to use locally grown farm products in school meals.  

As quoted in Lancaster Farming (Apr. 30, 2011), Concannon said, “This rule is an important milestone that will help ensure that our children have access to fresh produce and other agricultural products.  It will also give a much-needed boost to local famers and agricultural producers.”

Do you think a Republican administration would have issued a similar rule? 

2.  Hog farm videos

The state legislature in Iowa is considering a bill that would send people to prison for up to five years for filming undercover videos of hog farm practices.  Setting aside the fact that this law violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, what are Iowa pig growers trying to hide?  How bad can conditions be?  

The jab at Barletta

Congressman Barletta has introduced legislation to punish cities that have passed laws providing sanctuary to exploited foreign workers.  I guess he wants to bring the same level of prosperity and economic dynamism that Hazleton has to other cities in America.