Stacking the deck for agribusiness

There is a bill in front of the Massachusetts legislature, H. 713, that is meant to give the illusion it will improve farm animal welfare, but H.713 will just maintain the status quo for farm animals and further support the interests of agribusiness and the abuses of factory farming. Bill H. 713 proposes to establish a “Livestock Care and Standard Board” that would approve rules for farm animal care, however, lobbyists with ties to out-of-state meat and egg factory farms have ensured that this board will always be stacked with representatives favoring big agribusiness. The goal of this bill is to trick consumers into thinking it will improve farm animal welfare while it will do nothing of any substance.

Instead of this disingenuous bill, we need to enact the Act to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals, a ballot measure that would prohibit the horrific practice used by many egg and pork producers of locking animals in cages so small they can barely move.

The Act to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals is supported by all major state and national animal welfare charities and simply requires that certain farm animals be given enough space to turn around, stand up, lie down and extend their limbs.

I would like voters to understand the deception behind Bill H. 713. It will squander tax payer dollars on more layers of bureaucracy while not dealing with the problems of farm animal confinement and cruelty. Instead, we need to enact the Act to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals.

KATHRYN WEAVER

Marlborough