Federal food safety bill tangled up in procedural mess

WHAT: Food safety legislation that passed the Senate by a commanding margin is now threatened by a procedural mistake.

WHAT HAPPENED: The largely bipartisan Senate bill appeared to be headed for quick passage in the House, but it contains fees that are considered tax provisions, which under congressional rules are supposed to originate in the House. A Senate aide said the problem was caused by a misunderstanding between Senate and House staff.

WHY ITS OUTRAGEOUS: The bill would increase Food and Drug Administration inspections of food facilities and give the agency broader authority to order a recall, which is critical after recent widespread outbreaks of salmonella and E. coli in peanuts, eggs and produce. Time-wasting mistakes like this by lawmakers should not be tolerated when it comes to important public safety issues.

Daily OutrageeditorialOpinionOther Opinionsafety

If you find our journalism valuable and relevant, please consider joining our Examiner membership program.
Find out more at www.sfexaminer.com/join/
Previous story
GM bailout still not a good deal, no matter the spin
Next story
50,000 prison inmates claim tax refunds, but report no wages to IRS

Just Posted

BART Ambassadors are being called on to assist riders in social situations that don’t require police force. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Unarmed BART ambassadors program formalized with a focus on community service

Public safety and police reform are key elements in campaigns of Board members Dufty and Simon

On Oct. 13, people lined up to vote early for the presidential election in Southlake, Texas. <ins>(Shutterstock)</ins> <ins></ins>
Five things to watch for in the run-up to Nov. 3

Down-ballot races, as much as the presidency, will determine the future course of this nation

WeChat (Shutterstock)
U.S. District Court denies Trump request to shutdown WeChat app

A federal judge in San Francisco denied a request by the U.S.… Continue reading

School board members Gabriela Lopez (left) and Alison Collins (right) say they have been the subject of frequent hateful, racist and sexist attacks during their time on the school board. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F Examiner)
Angered by Lowell decision, SFUSD grad targets school board members with violent imagery

Facebook page depicts two women of color on board with swastikas and x-marks on their faces

Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, a former school board member, said it was ‘ridiculous’ that the school district did not yet have a plan to reopen. <ins>(Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)</ins>
Supervisors demand SFUSD set a timeline for reopening

Pressure grows on district to resume in-person learning as The City’s COVID-19 case count goes down

Most Read