Primary Offense & Getting Doha Right

Primary Offense & Getting Doha Right plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. As President Obama has made a commitment to finalizing a successful Doha round US Trade Representative Ron Kirk explains that the US is more concerned about getting a world trade multilateral agreement right versus who would be to blame if such a deal is not reached. KIRK: If we get this right, this is a huge shot in the arm to the world's economy, as important to doing by lateral agreements are, which we won't give up on. To get an agreement among the 153 economies and have a major trade liberalizing impetus could help every economy in the world but we have to get it done right. We think it's worth staying at the table and we'd rather focus on moving us to a position that we're in a stronger more productive environment rather than worrying about who to blame if it doesn't pass. After passing Senate Bill 6345 it is now a primary offense in Washington State to even be holding a cell phone to your ear when you're behind the wheel. Even if it looks like you are reading or writing a text, you can get pulled over and ticketed. Even though it is currently a secondary offense it does not seem to have made any impact on driver's cell phone habits. You can still make a call if you use a hands free device like a bluetooth. But another change that comes with the new law; anybody with an intermediate license or learners permit can't even use a bluetooth to talk on the phone. The bill now heads to Governor Gregoire's desk for her final approval. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. The recent announcement that the Center for Disease Control was finally able to track down where the most recent salmonella outbreak originated from through the victims shopper savings cards was a relief to many and a concern to only a few privacy advocates. If you are like me you may find yourself scratching your head in wonder at how anyone could find fault with an easier and quicker way to trace and identify cases of food poisoning. It would be great if food labeling and frequent government inspections of food production facilities was all it took to keep our overall food supply safe. Realistically those two things alone won't ensure food safety. There will probably never be a time when we will be able to shop with "blindfolds" on. The ability to track the source of E. Coli tainted foods quickly remains paramount, and the majority of American consumers agree that when food safety problems arise the government should be able to quickly and accurately trace food from production to sale. As with airport safety, we have to decide what we consider more important, our privacy or our lives. Frankly, I'm not ready or willing to carry the banner. "Give me privacy, or give me death". Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.