Letter: Hamilton, Magnus put own interests first on farms

Talk about it

Back in April, Rep. Rod Hamilton and Sen. Doug Magnus authored/introduced two bills: (S.F. 1118/HF 1369) that would have criminalized anyone who blows the whistle on animal cruelty, food and worker safety, labor abuses, and environmental crimes etc. These two Republicans were trying to make it a crime to videotape the appalling conditions and abuses that may exist on Minnesota farms and factories.

How is this going to protect us from E.coli- or salmonella-tainted food products? What is happening on these farms that they don’t want you to see? Why is their number-one priority elevating the corporate farm industry above the law, thus guaranteeing them special protections? Shouldn’t their top priority be the protection of workers and consumer safety?

This shouldn’t surprise anyone, since they both list their occupation as farmers. They’re just looking out for themselves at the expense of the majority of their constituents. The people of southwest Minnesota better wake up. The people you elected as your representative/senator are robbing you of your rights as citizens of Minnesota.

On a side note, both Hamilton and Magnus voted against minimum wage increases in 05/01/08 (SF 875) and voted for the Carbon Dioxide Emissions Ban Removal in 05/11/11 (SF 86). Are these the people you want representing you?

Tags: opinion, letters, hamilton, magnus, agriculture