“Cow Share” Bill Threatens Basic Human Rights in Washington State

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January 16, 2006

Action Alert from the Washington Association of Shareholder Dair

*Please visit, call, write or email your Washington State legislators.

A bill has been introduced into the Washington State Legislature that is intended to force private owners of dairy animals to comply with Grade A dairy production regulations or face felony criminal charges. It also contains provisions that would seriously erode the rights of Washingtonians to be secure in their private homes and be free from unreasonable search and seizure.

The Washington Association of Shareholder Dairy Owners urges you to oppose this bill in order to:

• Protect your right to produce food for your own sustenance;
• Protect your freedom to choose your own foods, how they are produced and where they come from;
• Preserve your rights of privacy and the sanctity of the home;
• Maintain the economic viability of family farms.
• Immediate action* on your part is necessary as legislators need to hear from constituents /THIS WEEK/. If you can’t respond this week, don’t worry, deliberations over these proposed bills will be on-going. Take action anyway, please. More information on how to do this is below.

Two versions of the bill have been introduced into the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives, respectively.

The full text of the bills can be obtained at the following websites: Senate_Bill_Website <http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/6377.pdf>
and House_Bill_Website
<http://www.leg.wa.gov/pub/billinfo/2005-06/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2598.pdf>

*Attend the Public Hearing

*The first public hearing on the proposed legislation is scheduled to take place before the Senate Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Committee on Thursday, January 19, 2006 at 8:30am in Senate Hearing Rm 3, J.A. Cherberg Building, Olympia, WA.

Please plan on attending this hearing and testifying to preserve the rights of Washingtonians to make our own food choices and provide for our own sustenance.

If you can’t attend the hearing, please visit, call, write or email your State legislators.

As written, the proposed legislation intends to require anyone owning a dairy animal for milk production to comply with state dairy regulations and obtain licenses or else face civil and felony criminal charges. Thousands of Washington families who keep their own dairy animals for their own personal enjoyment and hundreds of dairy shareholders who have joined into groups in order to privately co-own dairy animals for their own personal enjoyment will be negatively affected by this misguided and dangerous law.

If passed, owning your own milk cow, goat or sheep will become a fond, fast-fading memory of a bygone era. Instead, powerful industrial dairy interests and over zealous government agencies will have finally succeeded in ushering in a Brave New World where citizens are
prohibited from providing for their own sustenance through their own private food production.

The proposed bill would also convey extraordinary powers to Washington State dairy inspectors allowing them to enter anyone’s home and search your premises on the basis of hearsay- all it would require is someone reporting that /milking/ is happening at your home.
Currently, dairy inspectors only have the authority to enter and inspect dairies that are licensed to sell milk to the general public, as it should be. The U.S. and Washington State Constitutions protect us in our private homes from such intrusions. It’s an affront to everything American that State legislators would even propose such far-reaching, police-state provisions.

*Below is a list of the bills’ sponsors* as well as those legislators who sit on the House and Senate committees that will be reviewing the proposed legislation. Please see if you find any legislators from /your district /on the list. These people need to hear from /you/. If you don’t find your legislators on this list, contact your Senator and Representatives anyway. You can find your legislators at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

* Attend the public hearings if you can.

* Another very effective way to be heard is to call your legislator’s office (either in Olympia or the legislator’s district office) and ask to make an appointment to see her or him in person to discuss the issue. If meeting with your representative is impossible, make an appointment to meet with a staff person in your legislator’s office.

Writing a letter (on paper) is also a very good way for your input to your legislator to be taken seriously. Their addresses are provided below.

E-mail is a convenient way to let your legislator know your position on this issue. Below are provided links to the legislators Internet web pages from which email messages to them may be sent.

*Please Take Action NOW!

*The Washington Association of Shareholder Dairy Owners invites you to *join the association* so we can continue our work to develop standards and legal documents for use by Shareholder Dairies in Washington State. We also invite your donations of funds to support our work in defeating these bills as well as defending Washington State Shareholder Dairies.

Thank you!

SENATE SPONSORS
*indicates a member of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Economic
Development Committee

Senator Mark Doumit
(D) 19th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
104 Modular Building 1
PO Box 40419
Olympia, WA 98504-0419
(360) 786-7636
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=19

Senator Marilyn Rasmussen*
(D) 2nd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
409 Legislative Building
PO Box 40402
Olympia, WA 98504-0402
(360) 786-7602
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=2

Senator Mark Schoesler*
Republican Whip
(R) 9th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
106A Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40409
Olympia, WA 98504-0409
(360) 786-7620
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=9
Senator Dan Swecker
(R) 20th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
103 Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40420
Olympia, WA 98504-0420
(360) 786-7638
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=20
Senator Bob Morton*
(R) 7th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
115D Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40407
Olympia, WA 98504-0407
(360) 786-7612
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=7
Senator Joseph Zarelli
(R) 18th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
205 Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40418
Olympia, WA 98504-0418
(360) 786-7634
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=18
Senator Paull Shin*
Vice President Pro Tempore
(D) 21st LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
405 Legislative Building
PO Box 40421
Olympia, WA 98504-0421
(360) 786-7640
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=21
Senator Cheryl Pflug
Republican Deputy Floor Leader
(R) 5th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
102 Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40405
Olympia, WA 98504-0405
(360) 786-7608
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=5
Other Senators on the Agriculture & Rural Economic Development
Committee:

Senator Jerome Delvin
(R) 8th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
201 Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40408
Olympia, WA 98504-0408
(360) 786-7614
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=8
Senator Ken Jacobsen
(D) 46th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
102 Modular Building 1
PO Box 40446
Olympia, WA 98504-0446
(360) 786-7690
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=46
Senator Tim Sheldon
(D) 35th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
412 Legislative Building
PO Box 40435
Olympia, WA 98504-0435
(360) 786-7668
Fax: (360) 786-1999
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=S&District=35
HOUSE SPONSORS
* indicates a member of the House Economic Development, Agriculture and
Trade Committee

Rep. Jim Moeller
(D) 49th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
422 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7872
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=49&Position=2
Rep. Daniel Newhouse*
Assistant Minority Floor Leader
(R) 15th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
324 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7874
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=15&Position=2
Rep. Tami Green
Assistant Majority Whip
(D) 28th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
327 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7958
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=28&Position=2
Rep. Shay Schual-Berke
(D) 33rd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
331 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7834
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=33&Position=1
Rep. Richard DeBolt
Minority Leader
(R) 20th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
335C Legislative Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7896
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=20&Position=1
Rep. John Lovick
Speaker Pro Tempore
(D) 44th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
430 Legislative Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7892
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=44&Position=2
Rep. Sherry Appleton
Assistant Majority Whip
(D) 23rd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
424 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7934
email
<http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=23&Position=1>
Rep. Ed Murray
(D) 43rd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
203 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7826
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=43&Position=1
Rep. Mary Helen Roberts
(D) 21st LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
341 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7950
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=21&Position=1
Other Representatives on the House Economic Development, Agriculture
and
Trade Committee

Rep. Kelli Linville
(D) 42nd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
429 Legislative Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7854
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=42&Position=2
Rep. Eric Pettigrew
(D) 37th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
122E Legislative Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7838
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=37&Position=2
Rep. Dan Kristiansen
(R) 39th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
404 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7967
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=39&Position=1
Rep. Mary Skinner
Minority Caucus Vice Chair
(R) 14th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
434 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7810
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=14&Position=1
Rep. Sherry Appleton
Assistant Majority Whip
(D) 23rd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
424 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7934
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=23&Position=1
Rep. Barbara Bailey
(R) 10th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
405 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7914
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=10&Position=2
Rep. Brian Blake
(D) 19th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
339 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7870
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=19&Position=2
Rep. David Buri
Assistant Minority Whip
(R) 9th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
318 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7844
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=9&Position=2
Rep. Maralyn Chase
(D) 32nd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
433 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7880
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=32&Position=1
Rep. Judy Clibborn
(D) 41st LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
315 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7926
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=41&Position=2
Rep. Jim Dunn
(R) 17th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
322 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7994
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=17&Position=1
Rep. Bill Grant
Majority Caucus Chair
(D) 16th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
434B Legislative Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7828
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=16&Position=2
Rep. Larry Haler
(R) 8th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
403 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7986
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=8&Position=2
Rep. Janéa Holmquist
(R) 13th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
436 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7932
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=13&Position=1
Rep. Derek Kilmer
(D) 26th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
430 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7802
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=26&Position=2
Rep. Joel Kretz
(R) 7th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
439 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7988
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=7&Position=2
Rep. John McCoy
(D) 38th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
338 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7864
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=38&Position=1
Rep. Dawn Morrell
(D) 25th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
342 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7968
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=25&Position=2
Rep. Dave Quall
(D) 40th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
301 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7800
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=40&Position=1
Rep. Chris Strow
(R) 10th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
323 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7884
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=10&Position=1
Rep. Pat Sullivan
(D) 47th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
122G Legislative Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7858
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=47&Position=2
Rep. Deb Wallace
(D) 17th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Olympia Office:
340 John L. O’Brien Building
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7976
email http://apps.leg.wa.gov/memberemail/MailForm.aspx?Chamber=H&District=17&Position=2
This message originated from or was forwarded by:
Chrys Ostrander
Chrysalis Farm @ Tolstoy
Organic Micro-permaculture
33495 Mill Canyon Rd.
Davenport, WA 99122
509-725-0610
chrys@thefutureisorganic.net

“The purpose of agriculture is not the production of food, but the perfection of human beings”
Masanobu Fukuoka – “One Straw Revolution” 1978

Please join a growing community of Washingtonians working for official recognition of the private, self-regulated shareholder micro-dairy. To find out more and get involved, JOIN the *Washington Association of Shareholder Dairy Owners*
Defend the Rights of Washingtonians to Readily Obtain Raw Milk and Raw Dairy Products
Support the Raw Dairy Choice Campaign

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