R-CALF USA Files Documents Asking Checkoff Programs be Declared Unconstitutional
Thursday, May 23rd, 2019 -- 7:41 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -R-CALF USA has filed documents in the federal district court in Montana asking that the beef checkoff programs in 15 states be declared unconstitutional, including Wisconsin's.The group contends that in each of the states, the beef councils are run as private corporations that have been keeping half of the mandatory checkoff assessments collected within their states to fund their private speech. Specifically, the group is challenging the practice on the grounds that the First Amendment prohibits the government from compelling cattle producers and other citizens to subsidize private speech. R-CALF wants to give the producers in the effected states the ability to choose whether or not to fund private corporations.
Meanwhile, the group also objects to the state beef councils sending checkoff money to third-party entities that are not publicly accountable and that use the money to support the consolidation of the cattle and beef industry. The other states named in the suit include Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Vermont.
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