Ag-gag laws

By Dean Lerner

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The April 9 New York Times Editorial, “Eating with our eyes closed,” is a real eye-opener. As usual, there's always more to bizarre stories. And where there are bizarre stories, Congress/politicians aren't far away.

An Associated Press article (Aug. 24, Des Moines Register) informed us about three Republican congressmen - Representatives Devin Nunes, Jeff Denham and Kevin McCarthy - who had written to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, encouraging him to “intervene against attacks [against a California slaughterhouse] occurring at the urging of radical groups.” The slaughterhouse had been shuttered due to alleged animal abuses and, by golly, the trio wanted something done.

How dare those “radical groups” attack the industry supplying their favorite steak house? Or, most important, what about those potential campaign contributions?

If only these congressmen had visited with Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, they wouldn't have had to rely upon Secretary Vilsack to remedy this untoward situation, they could have handled it themselves. You see, as pointed out in the Times editorial, Branstad and most of the Iowa Legislature, Republicans and Democrats alike, know just how to deal with “radical groups.”

They pass laws, accurately described as “ag-gag” measures, frequently authored or inspired by the corporate-funded and infamous American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), essentially making it a crime for employees, journalists or activists to expose illegal or unethical practices at animal production facilities. Such legislation, it would seem, is driven by those who are more concerned about what comes from the mouths of citizens than what goes into them.

Iowa lawmakers have made it unlawful to apply to work in one of these facilities under what are characterized as “false pretenses” - you know, concerns about horrific acts of animal cruelty, dangerous animal handling practices that might lead to food safety issues, or the blatant disregard for environmental degradation caused by the discharge of animal wastes into our waterways.

In the Hawkeye State, the “radical groups” are stopped dead in their tracks, their films and photographs and other proof of animal cruelty go away, and, voila, the problem is solved. Even the First Amendment rights of these radicals don't become an issue, legislators appear to believe, if their ag-gag statutes are thoughtfully crafted.

As a proud Iowan, I suggest that the next time politicians from other states want some pesky radical group taken care of, they consult with Gov. Branstad and Iowa's legislative leaders for details.

Dean Lerner of Des Moines served as director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals from 2007 until 2012, when Gov. Terry Branstad replaced him. Comments: deanalerner@gmail.com