See? It really is possible for liberals and conservatives to get together and find a way forward that works for everyone, and is in the best interest of the nation. Factory farming has been a political issue for years now. Animal rights groups such as the Humane Society and the ASPCA have felt that factory farming practices that keep animals crowded in very small cages is inhumane, while industry groups have contended that sweeping regulations would be unfairly expensive for them and threaten their businesses. Believe it or not, both groups got together and found a compromise that addressed everyone's interest, and are now jointly lobbying Congress to pass the compromise standards. The United Egg Producers, which represents most of the US's biggest egg producers, together with the Humane Society of the US have proposed federal legislation that would: require conventional cages (currently used by more than 90 percent of the egg industry) to be replaced, through an ample phase-in period, with new, enriched housing systems that provide each hen nearly double the amount of space theyre currently allotted. Egg producers will invest an additional $4 billion over the next decade and a half to effect this industry-wide make-over; require that all egg-laying hens be provided, through the new enriched housing system, with environments that will allow hens to express natural behaviors, such as perches, nesting boxes, and scratching areas; mandate labeling on all egg cartons nationwide to inform consumers of the method used to produce the eggs, such as eggs from caged hens, eggs from hens in enriched cages, eggs from cage-free hens, and eggs from free-range hens; prohibit feed- or water-withholding molting to extend the laying cycle, a practice already prohibited by the United Egg Producers Certified program adhered to by a majority of egg farmers; require standards approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association for euthanasia for egg laying hens; prohibit excessive ammonia levels in henhouses; prohibit the sale of eggs and egg products nationwide that dont meet these requirements. The UEP feels this is very good for their members both for animal welfare concerns and because it heads off a developing situation where conflicting state laws could make interstate trade in eggs nearly impossible. I think this is a great example of what we can accomplish when we set aside partisan rivalries and work to find common ground. This is what happens when liberals recognize that industry is just folks trying to make an honest living in a hard marketplace, and conservatives recognize that activists aren't simply out to put them out of business. Even though there are still some agriculture groups that are still opposed, this approach is garnering a lot of support from all over the spectrum. UEP HSUS joint press release: http://www.unitedegg.org/homeNews/UEP_Press_Release_7-7-11.pdf News articles: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/20...ies-hatched-a-plan-to-change-the-egg-business http://www.agriview.com/news/livest...cle_e1d118be-4dc7-11e1-81dd-0019bb2963f4.html
