HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0271.365 2012-2014 COUNTY CLERIC
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED
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Testimony on the Proposed Bill#79, Draft 2 Date 71 411
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 14 of the Hawai'i County Code 1983 (2005 Edition, as
Amended),by Adding a New Article Relating to Prohibition of Genetically Modified
Organisms
Thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony Bill 79 Draft 2. My testimony is
from the perspective of a County of Hawaii taxpayer who does not want to see the
County wasting millions of dollars defending a bill that is severely flawed with errors and
logical inconsistencies.
For example,the definition of"transgenic manipulation" is convoluted and wrong.
Further,the listed exceptions can be used by any competent biotechnologist to bypass this
legislation. But deleting the exceptions could cause major economic difficulties to our
farmers.
Section 14_Findings and purpose, subsections(1)to(11)and(19)to (22)refer to
protection of the environment because of the perceived danger from GMOs. Yet,there is
a list of exemptions for currently important crops. GMOs are either dangerous or not.
Council cannot have it both ways.
Council has been provided an analysis of the legality of bans on GMOs that indicates
such bans may be legal if drafted properly and are logically coherent. Unfortunately,this
draft is neither.
If this bill is passed, I am afraid that some persons might deliberately challenge the bill to
collect damages from the County. Are the supporters of this bill willing to put up the
millions of dollars required to defend it. Of course not! It will fall on the taxpayers.
Vote No on this bill. Let the multimillion-dollar environmental groups fight the battle
with Monsanto et al. without using our local tax dollars.
Thank you.
Respectfully submitted:
Kevin D. Hopkins
746 Hele Mauna Street,
Hilo,HI 96720
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Ref. Date JUL 0 2 2013._.