Odor Study Vote Reveals Corporate Lobby Influence

Kristin Schaaf, Iowa
Citizens for Community Improvement 

The Iowa Senate voted last night with a 29-17-4 vote to pass
the odor study, House File 2688, a bill that requires taxpayers to foot the
bill of nearly $23 million to study factory farm odor over the next five years.
The bill passed with two amendments, which means it will go back to the House
for a final debate.

Iowans are disappointed in the legislators’ obvious catering
to the corporate agriculture lobbyists rather than listening to the needs of
everyday people. This study is nothing but a stall tactic for factory farms to
not enact clean air standards. A 2002 joint study by the University
of Iowa and Iowa
State revealed that Iowans need
clean air standards for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which are toxic to our
health.

Our legislators have put the needs of corporate lobbyists
before the needs of everyday Iowans. It’s time for Voter Owned Iowa Clean
Elections – a system where people matter more, and money matters less. And it’s
time for our legislators to stand up for what’s right and enact policies that
benefit the common good.