Friday, May 15, 2009

We still have a $6.4 billion deficit, but at least they saved our pets from cocoa bean mulch

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (d), a person who sells a product containing cocoa bean shell mulch at retail must post the notice in paragraph (b) in a manner clearly visible to a consumer examining a product containing cocoa bean mulch offered for sale.

(b)The notice must be in 36-point type or larger and state:


The ingestion of cocoa bean shell mulch that has not been processed to be nontoxic is poisonous to pets. If a pet has eaten unprocessed cocoa bean shell mulch, you should immediately contact a veterinarian or the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

—HF1306/SF122, 86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

I was very disappointed that some bills which are not needed are getting to the floor while we have a big deficit to solve. For example, today much time was spent on a bill that would require retailers to post a sign in 36 [point] type print to warn dog owners that cocoa seed mulch is harmful to dogs. The bill initially failed by two votes and then the board was re-opened and kept open for the longest of any bill this year to muscle it through by the barest votes needed (68 votes). Once again, I would urge the folks in charge of the legislature to focus on the priorities of getting finance bills done, get the budget balanced and focus on the economy versus bills like this one.

—Rep. Marty Seifert (R-Marshall), in a May 5 e-mail to constituents

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