Press Release
March 5, 2007
Rally at the State Capitol on Monday, March 12
For Immediate Release: March 5, 2007
Contact: Don Grissom 405-822-4072, or
Sue Karber 405-375-3595
ACTION ALERT: Rally at the State Capitol on Monday, March 12.
Press Conference for Committee Substitute to HB 1842, March 12th, South Plaza of the Capitol, 11:30AM - 2:00PM
HB 1842 is an Act mandating that the state shall not establish or participate in an animal identification program. HB 1842 is sponsored by Representative Wallace Collins; Senate Author Kenneth Corn.
Don Grissom of Norman, a Wallace Collins constituent, asked him to support legislation to stop The National Animal Identification System from being implemented in Oklahoma. Wallace Collins submitted Committee Substitute to HB 1842, but the house leadership is not allowing it to be heard.
Grissom says "The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is a regulation written by and for the big food Corporations, like Cargill and Monsanto, to control the food supply, to their advantage. It will adversely affect the smaller operator and farmer, driving more farmers out of business and therefore weakening America. But Speaker Cargill will not allow the bill to even be heard. He has made speeches about making the process more open, and he turns around and denies an important bill to so many of us. Is he working for us, or Cargill and Monsanto? Where does his interest in this lie?"
Sue Karber of Kingfisher, a leader in the No NAIS movement in Oklahoma, says "The National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is not voluntary as the USDA propaganda machine says it is. Ask Bonnie Jo Jameson." Bonnie Jo Jameson of Webbers Falls says, "Our 15 year old daughter has a market goat as her FFA project. She was FORCED to sign up through her FFA school program. I am furious. I called NAIS and they gave me the 'story.' OK NAIS is PAYING FFA $5 to $10 for every premise they sign up. The kids are supposed to go to their neighbors and get them to sign up. My husband and I are outraged and contacted the school, Webbers Falls High School. The Ag teacher said the cards are REQUIRED for the kids to show their animals. The high school principal had never heard of NAIS and she owns horses and her young daughter has pigs." Sue Karber says, "Does that sounds like voluntary?"
Grissom and Karber have called for a Press Conference and public rally on the south steps of the State Capitol to demonstrate to the House Leadership that the public, especially farmers, want this bill heard. Grissom says "If you eat, you should be there."
Speakers will include: Rep. Wallace Collins, Rep. Dale Turner, Rep. Jerry McPeak, Senator Kenneth Corn, Attorney Harlan Hentges, Sierra Club Legislative Chair Dr. Charles Wesner, Rancher Bonnie Jo Jameson. More speakers to be announced.