U.S. Sen. wants Ag. secretary to resign

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040521-111510-6707r.htm

Fargo, ND, May. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., has called for the resignation of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, the Fargo, N.D., Forum reported Friday.

Conrad charged the U.S. Department of Agriculture secretly allowed some Canadian ground beef and other processed beef products to cross the boarder into the United States in spite of an import ban and said Veneman should, as a consequence, step down.

...more (but it is the Moonie Times)...

so some different links are available:

Sen. Conrad seeks agriculture secretary's resignation in mad cow case

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20040520-1759-madcow.html

WASHINGTON – President Bush should demand the resignation of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman because the department quietly allowed imports of some Canadian beef despite the ban it imposed due to Canada's case of mad cow disease, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said Thursday.



Advertisement

"It now appears that the USDA has secretly and selectively violated its own publicly announced ban on the importation of processed beef from Canada," Conrad said in a letter to President Bush. "In fact, the report is so damaging to the credibility and integrity of the USDA that I believe you should ask the Secretary of Agriculture to resign."

Alisa Harrison, a spokeswoman for the department, defended the agency's actions, saying the department had announced in August of 2003 that it would permit certain products that did not pose a risk to public health.

The secretary's office was called late Thursday for reaction to Conrad's call for Veneman's resignation, but no one was available to respond.

<snip>

The department imposed the general ban on imports in May 2003 immediately after Canada announced that BSE had been found in one animal. It allowed some exceptions in August.

However, critics of the department's handling of mad cow disease say the department, without telling the public, granted permits for Canadian processed beef products it had not listed in August.

...more...

http://www.agriculture.com/default.sph/AgNews.class?FNC=goDetail__ANewsindex_html___51819___1

Democrat demands USDA chief resign over Canada beef

WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - A Democratic senator on Thursday called on Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman to quit amid allegations that the USDA quietly allowed millions of pounds of banned Canadian beef products into the United States.

R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America said the USDA permitted 33 million pounds of processed Canadian beef imports between August 2003 and February 2004.

The United States has banned such products since Canada discovered a domestic case of mad cow disease one year ago.

"We were shocked to learn that USDA had quietly relaxed our health and safety standards to allow these products in without notifying the public," said Bill Bullard, the group's chief executive officer.

...more...

"Across the boarder" Good grief.

Potential mad cow in Texas not tested and everyone told to STFU.

Given that the complete ban on canadian beef (while refusing to test most american beef) was pretty much a sop to the cattle industry, it's hard for me to get that upset about lax enforcement (except as it may indicate additional corruption). It's a little like complaining when a crooked cop lets a suspect escape even though they're not a member of the local mob.

and our milk is vegetarian

GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY

GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY

GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY

GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY

GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY

GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY

GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY GREEDY