Senator Feinstein - Taking Over a Farm Near You

Townhall Staff | June 14, 2012 11:51 AM

This post was written by Townhall.com intern Kyle Bonnell.

Dianne Feinstein is currently working to pass an amendment through the Senate that will nationalize standards for the housing of egg-laying hens. Apparently deciding that the 1,000 page 2012 Farm Bill alone did not contain enough ridiculous regulations, the Senator decided to attach her own with the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012. Some

examples of these ridiculous regulations:

“(a) The term ‘adequate environmental enrichments’ means adequate perch space, dust bathing or scratching areas, and nest space, as defined by the Secretary of Agriculture, based on the best available science, including the most recent studies available at the time that the Secretary defines the term. The Secretary shall issue regulations defining this term not later than January 1, 2017, and the final regulations shall go into effect on December 31, 2018.

(E) beginning 15 years after the date of enactment of the Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2012, a minimum of 144 square inches of individual floor space per brown hen and 124 square inches of individual floor space per white hen.”

In a perfect illustration of out-of-control government, Senator Feinstein and many of her colleagues deem in necessary to tell every farmer in America how to properly house their hens. Disturbingly, this amendment would give bureaucrats the power to tell farmers how to raise their animals. The Senate cannot find the time to pass a budget or tackle entitlement reform, but at least they are working on regulating the living space of our hens for the next 15 years. It’s good to know that they have their priorities straight.