Grassley disappointed Supreme Court did not take up California Proposition 12 case
WASHINGTON — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s disappointed that the United States Supreme Court denied the petition filed by the Iowa Pork Producers Association challenging California’s Proposition 12.
That petition arose after the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the association’s constitutional challenge to the law last year, which requires farm animal products coming into California, such as pigs and egg-laying hens, to be housed in pens with a minimum of 24 feet of floor space.
Grassley says he’s not pleased that the high court rejected hearing the appeal. “The constitution says that Congress and the federal government has the right to do interstate and foreign commerce and to regulate it. California is interfering with Congress’ ability to regulate it.”
Grassley speculates that the Supreme Court did not hear the case since Congress hasn’t taken any action on the issue. “I’m sure the Supreme Court took the position that Congress hasn’t tried to regulate this particular issue, and so consequently you could say that Congress isn’t doing its job and the Supreme Court isn’t reviewing it for that reason. I’m still disappointed since it interferes with interstate and foreign commerce that the Supreme Court did not take it up, so it’s up to Congress to regulate this area. I plan to do that in the next five-year Farm Bill.”
Other members of Iowa’s congressional delegation have also voiced their disappointment of the Supreme Court not taking up the case.
