MANY OF AMERICA’S WORST FACTORY FARMS POUR MONEY INTO ANTI-PROP 2 CAMPAIGN

Money-laundering inquiry prompts United Egg Producers to finally disclose more than 100 agribusiness donors from out of state

SACRAMENTO - On Friday, two days after the YES! on Prop 2 campaign filed a complaint with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) formally requesting an investigation of what appeared to be money-laundering by opponents - the No on 2 campaign was forced to make public contributions of more than $4.5 million, nearly tripling the funds in their campaign account. The contributions come from some of the most disreputable factory farms throughout the nation that have a history of abusing animals, damaging the environment, and misleading consumers.

Proposition 2 is a popular anti-cruelty ballot initiative that will provide basic protections to certain California farm animals, by allowing them to turn around and extend their limbs through a phased-in prohibition of the most abusive factory farming practices.

Late Friday night, the Secretary of State's reports showed new contributions from 124 different agribusiness entities based in 33 states, contributing an average of nearly $36,000 each into the coffers of the deceptively-named "Californians for Safe Food" committee account. Less than one-third of opponents' funding now comes from California sources, with the nation's largest egg factory farmer, Mississippi-based Cal-Maine Foods - which has reported record earnings from charging the highest prices in egg industry history - contributing the most: nearly $600,000.

Nineteen other companies - many of which have sordid records on animal cruelty, labor violations, and environmental pollution - have contributed $100,000 or more. Cal-Maine, for example, has been cited numerous times for spilling chicken manure and parts into rivers and streams, including an Ohio incident that killed 49,000 fish in the Stillwater River.

"This massive influx of funds confirms that opponents of Prop 2 were undertaking a massive conspiracy to violate California election laws, and keep voters in the dark about the out-of-state factory farm corporations bankrolling their campaign," said Jennifer Fearing, campaign manager for the YES! on Prop 2 campaign. "The large quantity of money from out-of-state egg producers puts the lie to the claim that this measure will drive egg production out of state. If that were true, egg producers from New Hampshire to Iowa to Mississippi wouldn't be giving money to oppose it. Rather, they would be chomping at the bit to take over the California market."

Other new contributors include:

• Michael Foods ($100,000): Subject of a 2006 animal cruelty case exposed by a whistle-blowing employee.
• Weaver Brothers ($87,500): Exposed by an undercover investigation in 2002 finding routine animal cruelty.
• ISE America ($40,000): Currently the defendant in a false advertising lawsuit regarding misleading claims about animal welfare. Has been exposed by undercover exposés in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007, all documenting routine animal cruelty problems.
• Golden Oval Eggs ($15,000): Ordered by state of Iowa in 2008 to pay $200,000 in fines for environmental pollution coming from its egg factory.
• Pilgrim's Pride ($25,000): Was exposed by whistle-blowing employee in 2004 who secretly videotaped other employees stomping on chickens, throwing them against walls, and otherwise torturing them.

Wednesday's filing with the FPPC included evidence that the United Egg Producers was collecting significant funds for use in opposing Prop 2 that had not been filed with the official committee. One publicly reported violation was a $250,000 donation by the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, which has yet to appear in the official campaign account.

Prop 2 provides ample time-until 2015-for factory farms using 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.

Previous contributors to the No on 2 campaign include:

• Moark, LLC ($504,315): Paid $100,000 to settle criminal animal cruelty charges in Missouri.
• Foster Poultry Farms ($250,000): Referred by the Better Business Bureau to the Federal Trade Commission for false advertising related to animal welfare claims.
• Gemperle Enterprises ($216,288): Recent investigations found evidence of abuse and mistreatment of hens at a Gemperle Enterprises factory farm.
• United Egg Producers ($185,000): Paid $100,000 to settle false advertising allegations with 17 attorneys general, including California's.
• Armstrong Farms ($64,221): Sued by Dept of Labor for paying several dozen employees less than minimum wage for up to two years.
• Norco Ranch ($53,587): Owned by Moark. Maintains factory farms in Southern California that confine 8 million birds.
• Olivera Egg Ranch, LLC ($12,000): Accused of exposing residential neighbors in Lathrop, California to toxic pollution.

-30-

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.