University of California Sued for Withholding Documents About Funders of Prop 2 Study and Illegal Lobbying by State Employees

Published on Sep 6, 2008 - 7:39:21 AM

By: Humane Society of the United States

Sept. 5, 2008 - The Humane Society of the United States today filed suit in Yolo County Superior Court against the University of California. UC has refused to provide public documents concerning potentially unlawful campaign activities by its staff regarding Proposition 2 - a popular anti-cruelty ballot initiative that will provide basic protections to California farm animals.

The University of California Agricultural Issues Center recently published a report that predicted myriad economic outcomes for industry and consumers if Prop 2 passes in November. The University's promotion of the report emphasized the negative aspects of the study's claims, while downplaying its conclusion that California consumers would see "little to no impact" on prices if Prop 2 is approved. The press release accompanying the report repeats nearly verbatim many of the talking points of the No on Prop 2 campaign, and the report was co-authored by staff aligned with the factory farming industry.

"The University is required by law to disclose who paid for this report and whether the opponents of Prop 2 had any hand in revising the report's conclusions," commented YES! on Prop 2 campaign manager and UC Davis alumna Jennifer Fearing. "We already know that the Big Agribusiness opponents of Prop 2 cannot be trusted to play by the rules, and the voters are entitled to know if this report is tainted by any questionable payments to the University or other conflicts of interest that might render the report little more than an industry-sponsored campaign manifesto."

The study and the accompanying press release raise serious questions about the University's compliance with California laws restricting political lobbying by state employees. Some University of California researchers are working closely with opponents of Prop 2, while others are even explicitly listed on the opposition's website as endorsing the opposition campaign.

Prop 2 provides ample time-until 2015-for factory farms using these severe confinement methods to shift to more humane practices. Prop 2 is supported by The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, hundreds of California veterinarians, including the California Veterinary Medical Association, California family farmers, the Center for Food Safety, the Consumer Federation of America, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the United Farm Workers, Farm Sanctuary, the Cesar Chavez Foundation, Republican and Democratic elected officials, California religious leaders, and many others.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization - backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at humanesociety.org.

Yes on Prop. 2 - Californians for Humane Farms, sponsored by The Humane Society of the US, Farm Sanctuary and other animal protection groups, family farmers, veterinarians and public health professionals. For more information, visit YESonProp2.com.

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