Hormone Specialist Insiders

The last couple of years, pesticide giants like Bayer who makes glyphosate and Syngenta have been quietly lobbying the US Congress to pass the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act, which would prevent any state from imposing warnings beyond those approved by the EPA, limiting legal actions against pesticide manufacturers. The bill died in committee, so they have refocused on state legislatures. They want to be relieved of liability for any harm or death their product causes that is not mentioned on the label, regardless of any evidence presented in a courtroom making the EPA the defacto judge. In other words, they don’t want juries deciding their fate because that’s not working out too well for them. Bayer has paid out approximately $11B to settle lawsuits alleging cancer. Pesticide giants have tried bullying scientists who present data questioning the safety of their products. But the lawsuits kept coming. So if they can’t defend their products they’re going to try just changing the law. They start by greasing the legislators with campaign contributions. Check the link in my bio to see if your state legislator took money from them. Then comes the bleeding heart advertising featuring the victimized farmer with slogans like, “Side with Idaho farmers, not trial lawyers.” Pesticide giants spent $50K on an advertising campaign in Idaho last year.. State senator Scott Herndon said lobbyist’s efforts escalated with only days remaining in the session. One of them told him Bayer would have to fire 800 employees in Southeast Idaho and declare bankruptcy if the bill didn’t pass. He told them, “I bet you two weeks after the session you’re not going to file bankruptcy.” And guess what? He was right. “But nice threat, he said.”  The bill was defeated by 5 votes. It will likely be reintroduced this year but Herndon lost his bid for re-election. Supporters claim these laws protect farmers' access to pesticides so they can make a living. Ironically it’s those very farmers and the employees on commercial farms who handle those pesticides that might be most at risk and left without recourse if injured. That logic escapes me. I don’t see any language in these laws that threatens to ban pesticides. I do see language that shields big corporations from accountability, even if their products cause cancer or other diseases, yet unknown. 

These laws are popping up in at least eight states: IA, MO, FL, ND, MS, OK, TN, and GA—and drafts are circulating in more than 20 others. Use the link in my bio to find out who your local legislators are. You can even see how they voted on every state bill.  Contact them and see if a bill like this has come up in your state. It hasn’t passed in any state yet, but pesticide giants and Big Ag are doubling down with even more cash, and getting very close to success..  And one thing they are really good at is spinning a story.