Agricultural News
Opposition to State Question 777 Organizes Under the Banner of the Oklahoma Stewardship Council- Led by Drew Edmondson
Wed, 18 Nov 2015 06:07:48 CST
The proposed Right to Farm amendment to the Oklahoma State Constitution- which will be voted on by the electorate next November and has been named State Question 777- now has formal opposition. The anti 777 groups have organized under the banner of what they are calling the Oklahoma Stewardship Council. On Tuesday, the face and voice of the Council was former Democratic Attorney General Drew Edmondson- who presided at a News Conference at the State Capitol.
Several themes were sounded by Edmondson and three other speakers who talked with a handful of reporters Tuesday afternoon. Those themes included the idea that State Question 777, if passed will harm small family farmers and help protect larger corporations involved in farming in the state. Claims were also made that State Question 777 would "give constitutional protection to horse slaughter and farm animal cruelty."
The former AG also called the phrase in the Amendment "compelling state interest" a very dangerous concept to give any group, as the ability to achieve that standard in any bill proposed by and passed through the state legislature as "almost impossible" to become reality.
Edmondson pointed to the legal battles he had as the Oklahoma AG over chicken litter in eastern Oklahoma as evidence that SQ777, if enacted, could tie the hands of the state of Oklahoma if in the future, state regulations were needed to protect the environment.
William Tabbernee, executive director of the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, was also a part of the news conference and told reporters "As humans we are stewards of God's creation. We must take that stewardship seriously by ensuring a safe and humane environment for all of creation, especially the animals entrusted to us. Appropriate controls and restrictions must remain in place to prevent the exploitation and inhumane treatment of animals, plants and other natural resources which God has provided for us."
The Conference provided a letter to the Stewardship Council that outlined their opposition and was provided to reporters. You can read that letter by clicking here.
Tabbernee told Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays after the News Conference that the Conference has an "Impact Committee" that had reviewed this issue and made the decision to oppose State Question 777. However, the Conference's logo is not shown as one of the members of the Coalition opposing SQ777 on the Vote No on 777 website.
Edmondson says that he expects the battle over 777 to be a very tough fight- and one that will likely be expensive. He told Hays that "I think that both sides will say that their expendictures will be driven, in part, by expendictures on the other side- but I would estimate at least a million and maybe north of two million." Edmondson says he hopes that the HSUS will contribute to the Stewardship Council in urging a No vote next November.
You can listen to the conversation that Ron Hays had with Drew Edmondson on Tuesday afternoon by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
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