Rich lobbies back ‘unconstitutional’ ban on undercover videos, says lawmaker by Katerina Lorenzatos Makris
The "strong and powerful” and “very well funded” lobbies of animal agriculture are behind a bill that could lead to felony convictions of anyone making or possessing unauthorized videos and photographs of animal abuse on Iowa farms, punishing the photographers more harshly than those committing the abuse, said Iowa State Senator Matt McCoy.
Mercy for Animals undercover video "Dairy's Dark Side" led to animal abuse conviction Photo: Mercy for Animals
In a phone interview today, McCoy told Animal Beat (AB), “They want to stop animal welfare activists from advancing any further and they want to preserve their right to operate however they choose to operate with respect to their processes. They’re afraid if more visibility is brought to the public eye on their processes, their industry will be more heavily regulated and controlled. So they’re shutting the door and pulling down the shades so that nobody can see in and see what’s going on.”
Animal agriculture businesses such as for pork, poultry, and meat packing make up a multibillion dollar industry that flexes “a lot of muscle” in pushing legislation, said McCoy. “That is a major concern to me.”
Sponsored by Rep. Annette Sweeney,Iowa House File (HF) 589 passed the house last month, was referred to and cleared by the Senate Agriculture Committee last week, and now faces a vote on the Senate floor.
Sweeney told AB in an interview last week that the bill is necessary to protect farmed animals and the food supply from diseases that animal activists might spread while filming and photographing without the explicit permission of either farm property owners or law enforcement authorities.
MCoy said he's “hopeful but not optimistic” that HF 589 can be defeated, adding that he has proposed several amendments to stop the bill or at least curtail its effect.
For a description of McCoy’s amendments to the bill, and for interviews with more policy makers and animal welfare leaders on this issue, please visit Animal Beat again soon.
