Iowa AG on How California Is Trying to Use Its ‘Market Power to Change How We Farm’

Iowa is calling on Congress to prevent California from overregulating the agricultural sector.

"California trying to use their market power to change how we farm, [and] I think that violates the Constitution," Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says.

California's Proposition 12 regulations, implemented in 2022, "require veal calves, breeding pigs, and egg-laying hens to be housed in systems that comply with specific standards for freedom of movement, cage-free design, and specified minimum floor space," according to the California state government.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Proposition 12 in May, leaving the law in place. Now, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and 10 other GOP governors have sent a letter to Congress asking lawmakers to protect the "nation's agricultural interests from states that are working to put onerous and unfounded regulations on livestock producers that will ultimately increase food costs and hurt farming operations."

Bird says Iowa will continue to "stand up for not just farmer's ability to farm, but anybody that wants to do business and not be told what to do by a big, liberal state like California."

Bird joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss the fight against Proposition 12. She also discusses the court battle over Iowa's fetal heartbeat law that would protect babies in the womb starting at about six weeks of pregnancy.

Enjoy the show!