The Center for the Environment and Welfare (CEW) has unveiled a new ad “slamming” California’s Proposition 12. The ad appeared in the Wednesday print edition of The Hill to coincide with the House Committee on Agriculture hearing: “An Examination of the Implications of Prop 12.”
CEW says Prop 12 is driving up food prices across the country. Its ad — which reads, “Californians Say They ‘Clucked Up’” — highlights CEW polling that found Californians regret passing Prop 12. CEW research says 60% of state voters want “a legislative fix to the food ban” to bring down prices.
“If a new vote were to be held today, the food regulation would fail to gain enough support to become law, drawing only 35% support,” according to CEW’s poll results.
This congressional hearing followed the Trump administration’s suit against the state of California, filed earlier in July, to nullify two of the state’s overreaching farm mandates, including Prop 12.
“There is bipartisan concern about the effects of Prop 12. In fact, it is one of the few things the Trump White House and former Biden administration agree on,” Will Coggin, research director of CEW, said in a news release. “Congress must include a Prop 12 fix in the Farm Bill to protect consumers and prevent future measures that scramble our protein supply chain.”
CEW launched a public education campaign, “Food Price Fix,” in May urging Congress to stop the far-reaching consequences of Prop 12. The campaign has included numerous ads, including a national TV commercial, and continues to lead a letter-writing initiative asking voters to contact their lawmakers and urge them to pass a federal fix to Prop 12.
Though CEW applauded the Trump administration’s suit against California, says it reminded Congress that it should pass legislation to deliver immediate relief for Americans facing high food costs who can’t afford to wait years for litigation to wind through the courts.
