SFA Members Take Industry’s
Case to Capitol Hill
(Continued from Homepage) As
in dozens of similar meetings held across Capitol Hill May
14 with lawmakers, their aides, and SFA members, the Ohio
delegation urged Brown to support food safety legislation
that would strengthen federal requirements and oversight without
adding user fees or other onerous requirements. They urged
opposition to biofuel policy that would encourage diversion
of food crops, such as corn, to fuel, thus increasing the
cost of commodities needed for their products. They expressed
opposition to proposals that would restrict food products
that can be sold at school activities and provided to recipients
of federal food programs. And, they urged opposition to the
Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which would replace union
elections with a card check system.
Told that the companies attending that single meeting represented
more than 1,000 jobs in Ohio, Brown said every action he takes
in Washington is focused on its impact on jobs in his state
– not ideology or party positioning. Scott then cautioned
that EFCA would be counterproductive, that it would interfere
with positive management-employee relationships that exist
at his and other snack food companies, add unnecessary burdens,
and “drag down our ability to help grow the economy.”
Brown questioned the industry executives from his state about
their businesses – could they really correlate the impact
of ethanol on the price of commodities they need for their
products? What about the impact of sugar policy? Did the nutritional
labeling law result in additional costs, and if so, how?
He said he is leading a group of senators who are determined
that climate change legislation under consideration will not
hurt industrial production, and predicted without their support
the legislation cannot pass. “Everything I look at is
how do we create jobs in Ohio,” he said.
“We provided a level of detail that they might not
think about,” Scott Smith said following the meeting
with Brown, impressed with the interest and questions posed
by the senator. “You can be cynical and not come to
Day in DC, and sit home and complain that nobody listens,”
he added. “Or, you can come and seek common ground on
policy that matters. That’s what we tried to do.”
In other meetings…
Rep. Todd Platts (R-PA) – Ben McGlaughlin, Wolfgang
Candy Company, Inc., York, PA; Tom Dempsey, and Brian Greth,
Utz Quality Foods, Inc., Hanover, PA urged support of the
industry-backed food safety bill, the Safe FEAST act of 2009
in the House and the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act in
the Senate.
“We all operate safe plants, but are concerned about
user fees and how onerous they might be,” Dempsey said.
The group also voiced opposition to restrictions on foods
available under the food stamp program, as well as in schools.
“I want to promote nutrition,” said Platts, “but
I believe in local control.”
Platts, who opposes EFCA, said the action is in the Senate.
“My guess is a modified version will pass over there,”
he said.
Rep. Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA) – Meeting in the ornate
Rayburn Room in the U.S. Capitol, Rep. Pitts told Daryl Thomas,
Herr Foods Inc., Nottingham, PA, that Democrats in Congress
are ramrodding energy policy legislation that relies far too
much on wind and solar and virtually ignores nuclear energy
as a resource.
“The bill has 50 pages on lightbulbs and two sentences
on nuclear,” he said. “You can’t solve the
problem with just wind and solar. In Pennsylvania, 58% of
electricity is produced by coal-fired plants.”
He predicted that if the bill is passed, consumers’
average fuel costs will skyrocket.
After Thomas ticked off SFA’s concerns on key issues,
Pitts said Democrats “are moving with breathtaking speed”
on their legislative initiatives and “spending massive
amounts of money.” He added, “They want to nationalize
healthcare and energy. But we’ll keep fighting the good
fight.”
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) – Thomas Howe, Baptista’s
Bakery, Inc., Franklin, WI, pointed out to Ryan that his company,
with 120 employees recently defeated an initiative by the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters to unionize by one
vote, and remains non-union. “We have excellent fringe
benefits and wages,” he said, adding that the “card
check” bill would make it even more difficult. Ryan
told him he strongly opposes EFCA.
Howe urged support of the industry-backed food safety bills.
On biofuels, Ryan said he opposes increasing federal support
for ethanol.
Rep. Jim Jordon (R-OH) -- Jordon addressed a kickoff luncheon
on Capitol Hill, and encouraged attendees to let lawmakers
know about their concerns. Expressing agreement with SFA’s
position on key issues, Jordon blasted President Obama’s
budget, which fails to extend previously enacted tax cuts,
and said the country is “racking up $1 billion a day
in interest payments” on the national debt.
On energy policy, Jordon opposed placing any form of energy
taxes on industry. “If you want to limit this economy,
put an energy tax on the economy, he said.”
“What you are doing is great,” he said. “Go
out and talk to Members of Congress. It’s all about
communicating. The people get it.”
A Successful Event
SFA President & CEO Jim McCarthy was delighted with the
turnout of SFA members for the Day in DC Spring Summit.
“We were able to discuss the issues that are critical
to our industry,” he said, “and it came at a crucial
time as so many of these matters – labor, food safety,
nutrition, energy – are in critical stages on Capitol
Hill. “It is always essential for our members to speak
up and participate, but in the current political atmosphere,
it is especially important. There is a lot at stake.”
“It is highly important for people to participate in
Day in DC, especially in the current state of our economy,”
said Rich Rudoloph. “It’s our voice.”
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