The American Egg Board, which is under investigation by the US. Department of Agriculture because of the reports, has since apologized for the remarks. The board’s CEO has taken early retirement.

The checkoff programs are quasi-public programs established by Congress, with boards appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Producers are required by law to pay into the checkoffs. In fact the U.S. Supreme Court has decreed that checkoff promotions are government speech.

In short the organizations are using the federal government’s authority to tax as they collect about $500 million a year from producers.

The public has every right to know how the organizations are spending their money.

If Congress goes along with their attempt to hide their activities from public view it will make it more difficult for the public to learn about their food and where it comes from.

As Guebert reported, the 217-page funding bill for the USDA’s $21.3 billion budget for next year sailed through on a voice vote.

Americans are well aware that Congress is barely functioning these days. It’s all too easy for lobbyists to sneak things into legislation. We hope that Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, who is a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and the rest of Nebraska's congressional delegation can pry this passage out of the bill before it goes further.

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