K Street Files: Milk a Contentious Topic
11.10.11
Milk may not seem very controversial, but the wholesome beverage has triggered a lobbying and public relations spat over federal dairy regulations.
The International Dairy Foods Association, which represents the processors who transform raw milk into drinkable and edible dairy products, has launched a six-figure ad campaign urging: "It's time for Big Government to get out of your milk."
"We would like to get rid of the milk marketing system," said Jerry Slominski, senior vice president of legislative affairs for the association. The recently launched campaign — which includes print, TV and Internet ads, a YouTube video, a website and a letter-writing drive — takes aim at the Federal Milk Marketing Order system, which sets minimum milk prices according to federal formulas.
The campaign portrays the marketing system, which dates to 1937 and was designed to evenly distribute milk profits among farmers, as a complex and outdated "big government boondoggle" that's artificially jacking up the price of milk.
Source: Roll Call (subscription)