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February 29, 2012

Iowa State Senate Backs "Ag-Gag" Bill 
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The Iowa State Senate has approved a bill that would punish animal
rights activists who go undercover to expose farm animal abuse. Backed
by Iowa’s agriculture industry, the "Ag-Gag" bill would impose fines
and prison sentences on anyone who seeks agricultural employment to
document the conditions of farm animals. In recent years, undercover
videos have revealed shocking conditions at a number of locations and
have led to plant closures and meat recalls. In a statement, the group
Mercy for Animals said: "Lawmakers should be focusing on strengthening
[Iowa's] pathetic [animal cruelty] laws, not silencing whistleblowers
who expose animal abuse or other serious issues involving the safety and
security of the American food supply."



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