What is the Save Our Bacon Act: Hinson's Iowa hog bill explained
The Save Our Bacon Act is a proposed federal bill introduced by Republican Ashley Hinson, U.S. Representative for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. It would prevent individual states from applying their own rules to meat and other livestock products shipped into them from other states. The bill was written in response to California's Proposition 12, a set of animal-housing standards. It has not been signed into law, and the sources do not report that it has passed.
Why it's in the news
Josh Turek, a Democratic state representative, said at a farm near Grinnell, Iowa, that he would not support the bill, which his Republican opponent Ashley Hinson has championed in the tight Iowa Senate race. The race could affect which party controls the U.S. Senate.
- Josh Turek — Turek and Hinson in tight Iowa Senate race before Election Day
Background
Hinson introduced the measure as a response to California's Proposition 12, which sets standards for how animals such as hogs are raised. Under the bill, a state could not use its own rules to restrict the sale of products produced in another state. Supporters say it would protect Iowa hog producers from having to meet California's rules to sell there.
The bill is now a central issue in the Iowa U.S. Senate race. Hinson is the Republican nominee, and her opponent, Democrat Josh Turek, a state representative, has said he would not back it. Turek said the measure mainly helps large, international companies, naming JBS Foods and Smithfield Foods, and that it does little for small Iowa farmers. He said he would support country-of-origin labeling and other help for small pork and beef producers instead.
Farmers disagree about who benefits. Hog farmer Linda Schroeder of northwest Iowa said small family farms cannot pay the roughly $3,000 per sale that compliance with Proposition 12 would cost, and that the bill would help them. The Hinson campaign said Turek "has no idea what he's talking about" on agriculture and Proposition 12. Election Day is four days after the Grinnell farm visit, and polling averages show the race nearly tied, with Hinson slightly ahead.
What people are asking
Has the Save Our Bacon Act passed?
The sources do not say that the bill has passed. They describe Hinson as having introduced and championed it, and Turek as saying he would not back it.
Who supports and who opposes the Save Our Bacon Act?
Ashley Hinson and farmers such as Linda Schroeder support it, saying it helps small Iowa hog producers. Josh Turek opposes it, saying it mainly benefits large companies and foreign ownership, not small Iowa farmers.
Why was the Save Our Bacon Act proposed?
It was written in response to California's Proposition 12, which sets standards for how livestock such as hogs are raised.