Biotechnology Touches Off Statehouse Storm

CANDACE PAGE Burlington Free Press (Vermont) 27feb04

MONTPELIER -- While scientists from the Monsanto company preached the virtues of genetically modified corn and soybeans inside a House committee room Thursday, a scarlet-sweatered crowd of 100 waved "Monsanto Go Home" signs outside the Statehouse.

"Hey hey, ho ho, GMOs have got to go," they chanted, using the shorthand for "genetically modified organisms," then filed inside to listen to Monsanto's testimony.

Their arrival touched off a committee room confrontation and exposed the volatile -- but usually veiled -- clash of politics and personalities around farm issues this year in Montpelier.

"I think we should move downstairs to a larger room," Rep. Betty Nuovo, D-Middlebury, said to Agriculture Chairman Ruth Towne, R-Berlin, as the leading edge of the crowd squashed into the cramped room.

"We are going to stay here," said Towne, settling deeper into her chair.

"I move we go downstairs," said Nuovo, getting up.

"I'm the committee chairman and we're going to stay here," said Towne, who opposes most GMO regulation.

"This is a democracy and I've made a motion," said Nuovo, who supports GMO regulation.

The committee -- which has a 7-4 Democratic majority -- voted to move to the larger room.

"I'm in charge. We're going to stay here," said Towne, as more protesters, other lawmakers and lobbyists pushed into the room, jostling for a view.

"This is a democracy and the committee has voted," said Nuovo in a sharp, insistent voice.

"I'm the chairman. We're staying," said Towne again, flatly.

"Is this a dictatorship?" asked Nuovo.

House Speaker Walter Freed, a Republican, came hustling in. He suggested the committee recess. Towne gave a quick pound of the gavel, but the argument continued.

Eventually Towne agreed to reconvene the committee in 45 minutes, in a room large enough for everyone to hear the scientists' testimony. The scientists' employer, Monsanto, is a major seller of genetically modified seeds that protect corn and soybeans from pests or herbicides.

Some Vermont farmers are eager to plant the seeds. Other farmers and some consumers fear they are unsafe and want a moratorium on their use.

The morning incident only dramatized the frustration and distrust among Republicans and Democrats over farm policy and, more generally, over politics in the closely divided House.

Among other things, Democrats on the Agriculture Committee said Towne has called mainly witnesses who support her point of view against regulation of genetically engineered crops.

Maybe so, said Towne, but that's because she sought out "proven science," which has concluded that these crops are safe.

"I wanted to be sure any legislation would be based on facts not fear. Facts not 'feel good.' Facts not falsehoods. That's why we had doctors from all over," she said.

'Or the deal's off'

Republicans hold a majority, and have made passage of a rewritten right-to-farm law their agriculture priority. They have opposed any legislation to regulate genetically modified seeds.

Minority Democrats generally lose fights over legislation on the floor. But on farm bills their Agriculture Committee majority gives them rare leverage they are eager to use.

Democrats support the right-to-farm law, but will not agree to send it to the floor unless they are assured the House will pass their priority, a bill to require labeling and registration of genetically modified seeds.

Party leaders began to assemble a deal: Send both bills to the floor, along with a third bill modifying regulation of large farms.

Such "you-help-me-I'll-help-you" deals are general currency at the Statehouse, but they usually are negotiated in backrooms. Thursday, the whole messy process was on display.

"We'll send all three bills to the floor. No amendments. The committee sticks together. No fun and games," Towne outlined to her committee at about 4 p.m.

But distrust on both sides soon roiled the waters. Republicans said the bills need to go to the floor simultaneously, probably in a single bill.

No way, said the Democrats. First pass the seed-labeling bill, then we'll do the other two.

"GE seeds has got to make it to the Senate or the deal's off," Rep. Carolyn Partridge, D-Windham, told the committee, then said it again.

A matter of trust

But Chairman Towne said she distrusts the Senate, controlled by Democrats. Senators could pass the seed-labeling bill and decline to act on right-to-farm.

The committee argued back and forth, exposing substantive policy differences on the large-farm regulation bill. Hope of acting on all three bills before Town Meeting Day faded. Then the etiquette of polite disagreement began to erode.

Rep. Harvey Smith, R-New Haven, looked across the committee table at Rep. Floyd Nease, D-Johnson, and said baldly, "You don't trust us and I'm not sure I trust you. Why should I trust you if you don't trust me?"

"Because you're in the majority," Nease shot back.

By 5 p.m., House Democratic Leader Gaye Symington of Jericho and Agriculture Secretary Steve Kerr were arguing about the farm bills as part of an animated group blocking the ramp to the cafeteria.

Waiters pushed by carrying trays of tomato-topped canaps to a Statehouse reception.

Kerr shook his head and urged the lawmakers not to give up.

"Patience is a virtue," he said as the argument dwindled away, left unresolved until Friday.

Farm issues

Lawmakers are considering three major pieces of farm legislation:

RIGHT-TO-FARM

• Purpose: To strengthen farmers' protection from neighbors' nuisance lawsuits.
• Sticking point: Republicans want to extend protection to new farms or farming activities, not just farms that predate their neighbors. Democrats oppose the change.

LARGE FARMS

• Purpose: To conform with new federal regulations that require medium-size farms to take anti-water pollution measures.
• Sticking point: No community member can appeal when a farmer wins a permit to operate a large farm. Democrats would like to provide some appeal rights. Republicans are opposed.

SEED LABELING

• Purpose: To require that all packages of genetically modified seeds be labeled.
• Sticking point: Whether the bill, a Democratic priority, should be acted upon before the other two farm bills.

Contact Candace Page at 660-1865, 229-9141 or e-mail cpage@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com

source: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/bfpnews/news/1000h.htm 27feb04