Anti-labeling bill upends our rights

I was outraged and angry to read that the House has passed a bill, 275-150, that will make it a law that states cannot pass their own laws mandating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be listed on food labels. First, the GOP and some Democrats repeatedly said it is their special job to get government out of the lives of Americans. States should be the arbiters of which laws it can make and pass … oh … only the laws they find onerous: rights of women to get a safe medical abortion, right to marry whomever you choose, right to not be fired because of your sexual preference, etc.

But now they are trying to take away my right to know what is in the food I eat or serve to my family. Whether or not it is considered safe to eat by Big Business is not the question. If all of Europe and Scandinavia can put it on labels why can’t we? Big Business says we would be “confused” like we are all a bunch of ignorant consumers. The article also states that it is unclear whether the president will sign the bill.

If you don’t want your rights to be taken away please call the comment line to the president: 202-456-1111 and tell him you want the right for your state to decide what should be on food labels and ask him to please not sign the bill. Your call is answered by a volunteer within a few minutes or less. Please do it!

Joyce Renee Lewis

Camano Island

Correction: An earlier version of this letter contained an incorrect phone number for the president’s comment line. The number is now correct.

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