quote:
Originally posted by OccamsRaiserFollow the money. Food and beverage industry donates to lawmaker, lawmaker kills legislation requiring truth in serving. There are many out there that would claim a regulation like that is just another example of the gubment poking their nose into people’s businesses too.
and this is how our laws are made. Who don’t know that?
Bob
“Remember boys, we are all members of that great fraternity, the Mystic Knights of the Sea”
Sorry,
I just now saw this post. Y’all are welcome to email me if you ever have questions about legislation. As Charles stated, I did work very hard on this and we made substantial headway. Here’s the full text of the bill: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/3987.htm
As you can see, we actually passed this in the House. Once it leaves the House and heads to the Senate, it’s out of my control. But here’s the truth and here’s why it died in the Senate: Someone had to be held responsible under the bill, for regulating, monitoring and penalizing. I put that burden, in the bill, on the Department of Agriculture. It made the most sense there because they are already doing inspections (or they’re supposed to be). The Department of Agriculture didn’t want this additional responsibility. They lobbied the Senate to kill the bill.
Was there influence from outside forces, i.e., Restaurants and Hospitality groups, etc…Maybe…but if you’re looking for a responsible party, look no further than the Department of Agriculture.
What can you do??? Senator Chip Campsen chairs the committee where this bill died. He’s a good guy. Call or write him and ask him to revive the bill. I’ll re-write it and pass it again in the House…but I would prefer that it come out of the Senate since that’s where it died. I’d hate to do all that work again only to have it die again in the Senate.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
On to some positive news…as a consolation prize for killing my hard work, the Department of Ag agreed to pump money into pulling seafood into their “Local SC” program. You may have noticed the billboards and TV commercials lately. It’s peanuts, but better than nothing.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
Just to show it is not only a local phenomenon.
We spent a few days prior to Christmas down in Crystal River, FL (kayaking with the manatees). We ate at two different locations, and neither carried local seafood. One place had a “special” on an imported fish that everyone was loving. She said it had a real “exotic” name, “Pangasius”. Well, I happen to recognize that as being a catfish generally raised in the Mekong Delta. We were quick to pass on that. The next night, the restaurant had grouper sandwich on the menu. When quizzed about its origin, the waitress asked the cook who stated it was imported from Asia.
15’ Ocean Kayak Scupper Pro
quote:
Originally posted by yellabirdSorry,
I just now saw this post. Y’all are welcome to email me if you ever have questions about legislation. As Charles stated, I did work very hard on this and we made substantial headway. Here’s the full text of the bill: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/3987.htmAs you can see, we actually passed this in the House. Once it leaves the House and heads to the Senate, it’s out of my control. But here’s the truth and here’s why it died in the Senate: Someone had to be held responsible under the bill, for regulating, monitoring and penalizing. I put that burden, in the bill, on the Department of Agriculture. It made the most sense there because they are already doing inspections (or they’re supposed to be). The Department of Agriculture didn’t want this additional responsibility. They lobbied the Senate to kill the bill.
Was there influence from outside forces, i.e., Restaurants and Hospitality groups, etc…Maybe…but if you’re looking for a responsible party, look no further than the Department of Agriculture.
What can you do??? Senator Chip Campsen chairs the committee where this bill died. He’s a good guy. Call or write him and ask him to revive the bill. I’ll re-write it and pass it again in the House…but I would prefer that it come out of the Senate since that’s where it died. I’d hate to do all that work again only to have it die again in the Senate.
Stephen Goldfinch
“Sleep When You’re Dead!”
The seafood industry makes huge $$$ selling cheap seafood and labeling it as Grouper or snapper. In my case in an upstate restaurant I was blatantly lied to. In your own county , in the middle of Pawleys on us 17, a seafood retailer sells tons of swai for $14-$18 per lb, but it comes in their back door for less than $2.
I was in my local seafood spot gettin’ my bait a couple weeks ago and noticed they had “Spotted Seatrout”… " Speckeled Trout…huh?", I said…“They are from North Carolina” was the response. After a quick inspection, there were NOT Specks. They were in fact Weakfish I’m 100% sure. The fish were already scaled, maybe to “blurr” the fact of not being Specks? Maybe they were the ones that got scammed? I have been geeting my shrimp there for 4-5 years. Really nice folks, always remember me when I come in…I don’t know. But if I want to eat fish, I will catch them myself. Then I am sure of what I have. Or just go to Capt’ D’s…YUMMY!!!
Sometimes middlemen repackage the frozen fish crap fish into boxes/containers marked “Grouper” or what have you. The restaurant orders grouper from the distributer, box of “Grouper” arrives on the 18 wheeler, and the restaurant owner or chef can claim ignorance.
Sea Hunt 207CC,Yam F150
Carolina Skiff (old school model)17’ Suz D50
There will always be shady distributors, and re-packing does happen. However any chef out there knows when the price is too low, and the texture and smell are not right.