IFB, state ag groups urge Raoul to consider Prop 12 impacts

A coalition of state agricultural organizations, including the Illinois Farm Bureau, wrote Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and urged him to consider the potential Illinois impact of California’s Proposition 12.

Raoul joined other states’ attorneys general in an amicus brief supporting California in National Pork Producers Council & American Farm Bureau Federation v. Karen Ross, which is before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In its letter, the coalition of IFB, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Milk Producers Association, Illinois Pork Producers Association and Illinois Soybean Association provided information for Raoul to consider and summarized recent discussions among Raoul, IFB and the Pork Producers.

While the lawsuit focuses on pork and hog farms, the case raises important legal questions about the sovereign power of individual states to assert sole jurisdiction over the operation and regulation of their constituent businesses.

In arguing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that Proposition 12 should be upheld, California asserted broad and almost limitless authority to regulate businesses beyond the state’s borders if those businesses sought access to California’s market.

The Illinois ag coalition wrote to Raoul about Proposition 12 ramifications that including increased food prices and the resulting disproportionate effect on low-income Illinois households.

This story was provided by FarmWeekNow.com.

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