Information Alert:

Where Texas Candidates Stand on the NAIS

FARFA sent a multiple-choice questionnaire to every candidate (Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and Independent) running for state or federal office in Texas this November. Their responses are posted on our website at http://www.farmandranchfreedom.org/docs/politicians_positions_102.04.06.pdf

As you will see, many candidates did not respond. We need to make them pay more attention to this issue!  If a candidate in your district didn’t respond to the questionnaire, email them and ask them their position on the NAIS. Tell them that you live in their district, intend to vote on this issue, and you want to know where they stand. The questionnaire is shown below, so you can email them another copy.

If you have recved a letter from an incumbent or challenger about their views of the NAIS, please either email a scanned copy to info@farmandranchfreedom.org or mail a copy to: FARFA, 8308 Sassman Rd, Austin, TX 78747. We will pull out a short excerpt from the letter to post on the webpage.

The list of candidates was pulled from the Vote Smart website, http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm. You can find out what districts you live in by entering your zip code at that website.

FARFA does not endorse any political party or candidate. We are providing this information so that Texans can make an informed choice in November.

Judith McGeary
Executive Director
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
8308 Sassman Rd
Austin, Texas 78747
(512) 243-9404
(866) 687-6452 Toll Free
www.farmandranchfreedom.org

For candidates for the Texas State Legislature and Governor, the questionnaire was as follows:

1. Please check the statement that most closely matches your view on the role of the government in a national animal identification system (NAIS):
__ a. The U.S. Department of Agriculture should establish a mandatory NAIS.
__ b. The U.S. Department of Agriculture should oversee state-run NAIS programs to insure standardization.
__ c. The state should establish a mandatory NAIS.
__ d. The state should establish a voluntary NIS
__ e. The state should not take any action on NAIS.
__ f. Write your own statement (500 characters or less):

2. Please check the statement(s) that most closely match your view on the reason for NAIS:
__ a. NAIS is necessary to improve animal health.
__ b. NAIS is necessary for food safety.
__ c. NAIS is necessary to address bioterrorism
__ d. NAIS is a market issue
__ e. There is no valid justification for NAIS.
__ f. Write your own statement (500 characters or less):

3. Please answer the following:
a. Are you an incumbent?
___ Y
___ N
b. If you are an incumbent, did you vote in favor of HB 1361/ SB682 that authorized the Texas Animal Health Commission to implement NAIS in Texas?
___ Y
___ N
c. If you voted in favor of the legislation, please explain why, and whether your position has changed (1,000 characters or less)

For candidates for the U.S. Congress, the questionnaire was as follows:

1. Please check the statement that most closely matches your view on the role of the government in a national animal identification system (NAIS):
__a. The U.S. Department of Agriculture should establish a mandatory NAIS.
__b. The U.S. Department of Agriculture should oversee state-run NAIS programs to insure standardization.
__c. The U.S. Department of Agriculture should establish a voluntary NAIS.
__d. The U.S. government should not be involved in NAIS.
__ e. Write your own statement (500 characters or less):

2. Please check the statement(s) that most closely match your view on the reason for NAIS:
__ a. NAIS is necessary to improve animal health.
__ b. NAIS is necessary for food safety.
__ c. NAIS is necessary to address bioterrorism.
__ d. NAIS is a market issue, not a safety or health issue.
__ e. There is no valid jusfication for NAIS.
__ f. Write your own statement (500 characters or less):