Council pushes back in the name of home rule

House bill would keep counties from restricting GMOs

By Chris Hamilton, Staff Writer
The Maui News
March 21, 2009

[excerpt:]
WAILUKU - The issue of genetically modified crops, especially taro, found its way back to the Maui County Council on Friday - except this time it was folded into a larger issue of county home rule.

Council Member Sol Kaho'ohalahala introduced a resolution at the regular council meeting in opposition to a bill from the state House of Representatives. The House bill, which has now passed to the state Senate for review, would preempt any county's ability to ban or restrict the testing, growth and sale of genetically modified plant organisms (GMOs).

The council voted unanimously in favor of Kaho'ohalahala's resolution . . .

"Home rule is home rule, and don't you try and mess with it," said Council Member Jo Anne Johnson.

The measure passed by the council Friday sends a strong message but carries no legal weight at the state Legislature . . .

To read the full article, visit The Maui News website.

Update: October 3, 2009 Maui County Council votes unanimously for final approval of a bill to prohibit genetically modified taro in Maui County. See: Maui bans GMO taro.

GMO proponents may claim that "GMO crops are safe and well regulated," however, there is extensive evidence that federal oversight is not sufficient to protect farmers and the general public from the potential consequences of this technology. See:
Deficiencies in Federal Regulatory Oversight of Genetically Engineered Crops.

For more information, see:

• Maui bans GMO taro   (Maui News, 10/3/09)
  
  
• GMO preemption in Hawai'i - testimony by Britt Bailey of Environmental Commons   (Bailey, 3/4/09)
  
  
• Fall 2009 Hawai'i GMO Legislative Update (September 2009)
  
  
• A seed of doubt   (Honolulu Weekly, 4/8/09)
  
  
• GMO taro and coffee crops banned on the island of Hawai'i   (EC, 11/08)
  
  
• Big Island bans GMO coffee and taro crops   (Honolulu Advertiser, 11/14/08)
  
  
• GMO taro, coffee banned   (Hawai'i Tribune-Herald, 11/14/08)
  
  
• Taro Culture and Genetic Engineering   (Hawai'i SEED)
  
  
• Environmental Groups Seek Moratorium on Open-Air Tests in Hawai'i   (Washington Post, 2006)
  
  
• An Island Region's Self-rule: Kona Opposes Genetically Engineered Coffee   (Bailey, 2002)