Egg producers rally in hopes of defeating california balot initiative: Up to 50 million dollar will be needed to successfully fight the issue

摘要

Dominating discussions at the United Egg Producers (UEP) annual legislative meeting was one topic: the ballot initiative on cages that will happen in California this November. Animal rights activists have managed to obtain the required number of signatures to place a referendum on the November ballot that would essentially end the use of cages for layers in that state within a few years. Speakers discussed throughout the UEP meetings that passage of this referendum would be a major blow to the U.S. egg industry. In the past, the egg industry has been successful in fending off efforts by activists to create this type of political maneuvering to disrupt the way eggs are produced. The California ballot will be the first time the issue has gone to voters. In previous attempts, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has tried and been defeated to putit on the ballot in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Arizona and Delaware. HSUS is now trying now to establish legislation in Colorado and Washington state.