Rally urges local control over hog lots

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By Charlotte Eby | Wednesday, January 10, 2007 1:37 AM CST | () comments

DES MOINES — Activists were at the State Capitol on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to allow local control for livestock confinement facilities and to adopt a “clean elections” law that would reduce the influence of corporate agribusiness.

Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement want state lawmakers to hand the decision of where new livestock confinements can be built over to county boards of supervisors to provide local control. The group complains that large livestock facilities threaten Iowa’s environment and quality of life.

Activists carried signs with such slogans as “Stop Factory Farms” and “It’s time to fight corporate concentration.”

Robin Ghormley, a CCI member from Des Moines, complained about the negative environmental impact livestock confinements can have and said corporate agriculture tries to divide rural and urban Iowans.

“They want us to believe that manure spills and fish kills are the price we have to pay for cheap food,” she said.

The new Democratic leaders in the Iowa House and Senate have said the votes are not there to support local control. Activists say local control measures have not been adopted because of the amount of money poured into campaigns from ag interest groups.

CCI is calling for a clean elections law in Iowa that would allow partial public funding for political candidates who agree to spending limits.

Activist Inez Dawes of rural Madison County said it is not always easy to fight against deep pockets.

“We have always known and still know the difference between agriculture and agribusiness,” she said.

Former Democratic Rep. Ed Fallon, who ran unsuccessfully for governor last year, spoke at the rally. He said too much corporate agriculture money is being funneled into Iowa campaigns.

“If we can get a voter-owned clean elections system in place, that money won’t mean a lot,” Fallon said.

Charlotte Eby can be contacted at (515) 243-0138 or chareby@aol.com.