On Fri, 28 Jul 2000 09:21:41 +0300 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Activist Mailing List - http://get.to/activist This SF Chronicle item seems to be dated July 17 ================================= http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/07/17 /BU105719.DTL&type=business FOOD FIGHT: The Senate seems poised to approve a bill that would prevent states and municipalities from enacting food labeling requirements that did not conform to federal law. The Senate bill, S. 1155, has more than 30 co-sponsors, including Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.). It would stop states from requiring manufacturers to label genetically modified foods. Supporters of genetically engineered foods hope the Senate will bring the bill to a floor vote and, if it passes, fold it into a Senate-House conference committee, which could make it law. Opponents of genetically engineered foods are concerned that passage of this federal act would thwart their efforts to get states like California to impose labeling requirements. Benjamin Cohen, senior staff attorney for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said a vote on the measure could come at any time. On a related front, opponents of genetically engineered foods are still waiting for federal District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to rule on a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's process for regulating genetically modified foods. Joe Mendelson, an attorney with the Center for Food Safety, one of the groups that brought the case, said it was a year ago last week that final arguments were submitted. If successful, the challenge could overturn the current regulatory process. BIOTECH PORK: A few weeks ago I reported that the biotech industry was seeking three tax breaks from the California Legislature. In the horse-trading that produced the final state budget, the industry got two of the favors it had sought -- a boost in the state's R&D tax credit from 12 to 15 percent, and an increase in the amount of time firms can carry forward losses until they are profitable and therefore need the deductions. The R&D credit really meant more to Silicon Valley than to biotech, but the carry- forward provision was particularly important to biotech firms, which can run in the red for a decade. The old law allowed five- to eight-year carry-forwards, and biotech interests were pleased that a bill carried by Assemblyman Ted Lempert (D-San Carlos) extended that to 10 years. The third tax break sought by biotech didn't make it into this year's budget. The vast majority of biotech firms lose money and so tax breaks are meaningless. The red- ink firms would like to trade certain tax breaks with the few biotech firms that do have earnings -- and tax bills. Legislators were reluctant to embrace such a novel concept last year, but lobbyists are nothing if not patient, and biotech promoters will doubtless return to Sacramento next year in hopes of convincing lawmakers that the state's biotech firms need and deserve this additional break. *** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Feel free to distribute widely but PLEASE acknowledge the source. *** http://www.angelfire.com/mi/smilinks/thirdeye.html <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
