NPPC ARGUES AGAINST CA PROP 12 BEFORE SUPREME COURT

The National Pork Producers Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation presented oral arguments against California’s Proposition 12 before the Supreme Court. The groups challenged the constitutionality of the proposition because it attempts to regulate commerce outside of California’s borders.

Travis Cushman is the deputy general counsel for litigation and public policy with the American Farm Bureau. He says one state shouldn’t be able to tell the other states how to do business.

“It was really great today to see the justices recognize the Constitution prohibits states from regulating production in other states. That makes sense. We'd be in a mess as a country if any state was able to veto or second guess the practices of a farmer or rancher across the country.”

Michael Formica, chief legal strategist for the NPPC, says it was an encouraging day before the nation’s highest court.

“It was very hopeful to hear the justices understand the troubles that will be created by laws like Proposition 12 that reach far outside of the state's borders and try and impose the moral wills of one state on farmers, in this case, or on any business, any operation that's located entirely in other states. It has a tremendous impact on pork production and pork prices, but if let stand, it would have a tremendous impact on the U.S. economy and on the flow of commerce across the borders.”