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Don’t Let Factory Farms Write Their Own Rules;
Vote NO on Issue 2!
October 28, 2008

Last year, California residents overwhelmingly voted in favor of Proposition 2, a ballot initiative to ban the inhumane confinement of veal calves, breeding sows and egg-laying hens. Now, agribusiness lobbyists hope to prevent such reforms from happening in the great state of Ohio. With the help of pro-factory farm legislators, they succeeded in putting their own initiative on the ballot. This proposal, ironically titled “Issue 2,” would amend the Constitution to allow factory farms to write their own rules on animal welfare, protecting their right to be cruel for decades to come.

Specifically, this amendment would create a state board to establish “standards governing the care and well-being of livestock and poultry” in Ohio. Unfortunately, this board would be dominated by proponents of cruel factory farm systems such as those banned in California and elsewhere. Though three of the members are required to be representatives of “family farms,” the amendment conveniently fails to define what qualifies as a “family farm.” Most factory farms, being privately owned enterprises, can also be defined as “family farms.”

Meanwhile, only one member of the governor appointed board is supposed to represent an animal welfare organization, specifically a “county humane society.” But there is no requirement that this person, nor any other member of the board, have any specific expertise or experience in farm animal welfare. Thus, it is virtually guaranteed that the members of this board will not be amenable to any reform of current inhumane practices.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, and we need your help to defeat this measure.

• Download and print our PDF flier which you can distribute to fellow Ohioans and give to friends, co-workers and family members to do the same. Agribusiness is spending an enormous amount of money on misleading ads that promote Issue 2 as something that will ensure farm animal welfare. It’s up to you to make sure voters learn the truth!
• Connect with the grassroots network of Ohio citizens organizing against Issue 2.
• Read more about Issue 2, and share what you’ve learned with others.
• Most importantly, please make sure you get to the polls on November 3 – preferably with a car full of other compassionate voters – and vote NO on Issue 2!