The Governor's Veto Statement

BILL NUMBER:  SB 201  VETOED      

DATE: 09/30/2008

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 201 without my signature.

This bill weakens food safety standards in California, something I cannot support.

Last year I signed AB 1735, which passed the Legislature unanimouslyand put into law food safety standards for raw milk.  Those standardsare now in question by the proponents of this bill.  Looking pastthe lobbying techniques, public relations campaign, and legalmaneuvering in the courts, one conclusion is inescapably clear:  thestandard in place has kept harmful products off the shelves and California's raw milk dairies have been operating successfully underit for the entirety of 2008.

Based on fears with no basis in fact, the proponents of SB 201 seekto replace California's unambiguous food safety standards for rawmilk.  Instead they have created a convoluted and undefinedregulatory process with no enforcement authority or clear standardsto protect public health.

For these reasons, I cannot support this measure.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

A Letter from Senator Florez

The Governor’s veto of SB 201 is disappointing but certainly not unexpected. The Administration’s concerted efforts to defeat SB 201 are nothing more than an attempt to cover up the fraud committed on the legislature through CDFA’s sponsorship of AB 1735, which placed the wrong standards for raw milk into law. There is no question that AB 1735 was flawed. The legislature carried multiple pieces of legislation this year, including SB 201, to correct some of those flaws. The Governor signed another urgency measure that specifically fixed deficiencies in AB 1735 related to market milk (AB 2284 - Galgiani).

There is no question that raw milk and pasteurized milk are two distinct products. This Administration’s attempt to use the same standard for both products defies logic and can be taken as an attempt to regulate California’s two raw milk dairies out of business. The philosophy and science behind SB 201 is supported by food safety researchers from one of California’s most respected Universities. These researchers agree that the regulatory structure of SB 201 would make raw milk in California safer than existing law.

It is unfortunate that the Governor continues to play politics with the issue of food safety. This merely serves to lower the food safety standards that Californians rely upon for their protection.

As Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Foodborne Illness, I am committed to pushing forward on the issue of food safety and look
forward to putting forth legislation next year to move the ball forward on this important issue.

Thanks,

Dean