Democratic candidate for attorney general, Rep. Jeff Harris is taking his fight against factory farms, and his Democratic opponents, to the web.
Harris launched a video on the internet Thursday highlighting large factory farms moving to counties and townships without the consent of those who live there. It plays on a children’s story motif, lambasting Republicans in the Missouri House and accusing Speaker Rod Jetton of holding up the bill. Then the clip takes a dig at his opponents Rep. Margaret Donnelly and Sen. Chris Koster*, accusing Donnelly of not having a plan and Koster of taking away local control.
Donnelly and Koster are also running to be the Democratic nominee for attorney general.
When reached for comment, Donnelly was aghast at Harris’ claim because she is a co-sponsor on Harris’ bills advocating local control regarding factory farms, also known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
“I’m puzzled as to why Rep. Harris is saying I have no plan. My record has been clear that I support local control,” Donnelly said. “I was just surprised he would make that statement. When this issue first arose two years ago … I was the first one to sign the petition on local control.”
CAFOs are massive complexes involving thousands of animals cooped up in buildings where their waste could run off from the farm and enter the water system through ground water. The bill was introduced in January. Harris is pushing it because of his concerns about how these farms can impact the environment.
“We’re not talking about animals running around fences in the outdoors. That’s not involved,” Harris said. “We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of animals cooped up in buildings and manure that runs off. It smells and it can affect water quality, air quality and the quality of life.”
Currently, the Department of Natural Resources oversees the business applications for these farms. Harris wants to give residents a chance to vote on whether or not they want factory farms to come to their area. The legislator said he wishes Republicans would come down in favor of local control.
“(We need to) move forward and build consensus behind the legislation, preserve and maintain local control, allowing people in a community to have a voice in whether or not (factory farms) should be in their community,” Harris said.
Editor’s Note: Chris Koster is a client (website design) of PubDef.net publisher Antonio D. French
Margaret is supporting Harris’s bill and yet he attacks her…he seems like an angry, angry man. He’s always attacking somebody. It’s tedious.
Posted by bored with his rage | 20. Mar, 2008, 5:25 PMSo Donnelly’s “plan” is that she signed on as a co-sponsor to Harris’ bill? Hardly sounds like a plan to me. Sounds like Harris is leading on this issue, and Donnelly’s hiding behind him. Talk about a weak defense.
Posted by roger wilco | 20. Mar, 2008, 5:35 PMi agree with roger…signing a petition and being a co-sponsor of a bill does not mean that the person has come up with a plan. it is easy to attach yourself to the plan and not do any work, similar to koster attaching himself to the democratic party, but it is different to actually be the first to put that plan in action. even though donnelly has not led on this issue like harris has, she is still better than koster who is just wrong on the issue.
Posted by guy roth | 20. Mar, 2008, 7:41 PMI like Donnelly’s idea for CAFO regulation: support the Harris plan. Harris is clearly leading the charge on CAFO regulation in the state while Donnelly, Koster and Gibbons all take the back seat.
Also, I’m not sure I see this as an “Attack” as “bored with rage” states. It’s simply stating fact: Donnelly does not have a plan of her own to address the problems CAFOs present under Missouri’s current regulatory scheme.
Posted by Nick | 20. Mar, 2008, 8:28 PMHow is the headline even possibly correct. Since when does signing out to a bill and signing a petition constitute a plan.
You obviously want to do whatever you can to run down Jeff and create conflict between Jeff and Margaret. Gives me a good idea who Koster fears.
Why didn’t you ask Koster why he supported the stinkiest bill in the legislature last year that took away local control. A lot of the Republican caucus didn’t even support the bill.
While you are talking to Koster why don’t you ask him why he voted to kick more than 180,000 Missourians including more than 30,000 African Americans off health care. Also ask him why he moved the previous question on a bill made to harder for African Americans to vote. And ask him the sole reason he gives for running for attorney general is to put a bunch of people in prison.
I love your blog and you are a young talented person. But supporting and working for Koster is wrong. No matter how much he pays you.
Posted by Jill | 20. Mar, 2008, 9:11 PMIt’s hard to tell from the slanted headline exactly who PubDef is working for — Koster or Donnelly? I think Donnelly’s been a fine representative, but it’s painfully obvious that the only plan she has on this issue is to latch on to Harris’s plan.
And Bored is definitely off his/her rocker if he/she thinks Harris is attacking Donnelly by just stating the facts about her record. This is a pretty positive video about how Harris is leading on the issue. It’s nobody’s fault but Donnelly’s that she’s been a follower.
And if you don’t get why this issue matters, then you ought to learn more about it. Like clean water? Then you ought to oppose CAFOs. It’s that simple. Kudos to Harris on this one.
Posted by roger wilco | 20. Mar, 2008, 10:36 PMAll Harris does is attack, attack, attack. Do you know why? Because nobody is listening. He has zero support, zero endorsements zero money. All he can do to get attention is cry like baby and run attack adds. Jeff, run a positive campaign and maybe people will start listening….but I doubt it.
Posted by Jack | 21. Mar, 2008, 8:30 AMDonnelly has a bill beefing up product safety in Missouri. Harris didnt sign on nor does he have a “plan” on the issue. Does that mean he wants children to eat lead off of toys and to die in shoddy cribs? Of course not. The attack on Donnelly is weak and unnecessary. He has a great bill and he should stick to the positives and knock those who oppose it — Koster.
Posted by allen | 21. Mar, 2008, 10:46 AMSeems like Jeff is pushing leglislation in order to raise money – that’s ethical. It will be interesting to see who donates to his campaign now.
Not really the type of person I want in the AG’s office.
Posted by Jack | 21. Mar, 2008, 12:08 PMWay to copy and paste your posts on multiple blogs, “allen.” Saw your same lame swipe on the P-D. Harris isn’t attacking Donnelly, he’s drawing a contrast. He also didn’t say she supports CAFOs, just that he’s the one leading on the issue, not her. And judging from her response, it looks like even she agrees with him on that.
If Donnelly wants to make a web video about product safety, there’s nothing stopping her. She can draw a contrast too. But of course, that won’t make it an “attack.”
Do you think voters don’t deserve to know the differences between the candidates so they can make informed decisions?
Posted by roger wilco | 21. Mar, 2008, 12:54 PMroger, you post everywhere, why cant I? I agree that this argument shows a good contrast between the candidates, Harris and his boy supporters are whiners. Donnelly’s on the other hand commend Jeff for his CAFO bill and move on.
Posted by allen | 22. Mar, 2008, 10:49 AMthat’s funny. it’s donnelly and her folks who are doing all the whining. Harris looks like a leader, and Donnelly looks like a follower.
Posted by roger wilco | 24. Mar, 2008, 4:52 PM