Subject: Re: URGENT: Making sure you are in the loop on this
From: Corey Ciorciari <[email-masked]>
To: Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>
Cc: Gary HIRSHBERG <[email-masked]>, John Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2016 22:03:13 -0500

Hi Mr. Hirshberg- Secretary Clinton addressed the Roberts bill in October
of last year in Berlin, New Hampshire, saying:

"I'm against what is a movement right now in the Congress, which is to
preempt state decision making regarding GMOs.  In other words, there's a
group of Republicans who want to pass a law which says that if New
Hampshire wants to have labeling, mandatory labeling, if New Hampshire
wants to have other approaches toward GMO, they won't be able to do that,
and I'm against that because I think from a state to state basis right now
we're gathering a lot of information."

It was reported here
<http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/10/30/2016-campaign-gmos>.

At a Town Hall in Fairfield, Iowa on December 22, the Secretary also said:

"If you followed what went on in the last week in Congress, very powerful
agriculture forces were trying to pass a law, get it into the Omnibus, to
prohibit states from passing laws requiring labeling. Now that did not
pass. So that was a good development for Secretary Vilsack. Because what he
is trying to do is get states and advocates and agricultural interests all
at the same table to say look there's a right to know. You should be able
to have the information that you then make your judgment about."

On Tue, Feb 23, 2016 at 9:39 PM, Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]
> wrote:

> Thanks Gary.  Corey can send you statements she's made.
>
> On the broader issue, we will follow up with you.
>
>
>
> On Feb 23, 2016, at 7:21 PM, Gary HIRSHBERG <[email-masked]>
> wrote:
>
> Thanks, Jake. So this leads to two things.  First, can you send me
> anything that I can use to show the activists (and Bernie supporters) her
> statement opposing Roberts  (a link to video interview or speech would be
> fantastic if you have one).
>
> And second, it is one thing for her to be opposed to the Roberts bill, but
> another to be in favor of (a) giving all citizens the right to know through
> (b) mandatory federal labeling.  Frankly, the cynics won't be satisfied
> until they see a statement from her on the latter, ideally covering both
> (a) and (b) so please send me anything I can use to quiet these doubters
> and put out these fires.  And on the latter, if you want my help with
> wording or framing, let me know.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> *Gary Hirshberg Chairman, Stonyfield Farm*
>
> *Chairman, Just Label It *
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From:        Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]>
> To:        Gary HIRSHBERG <[email-masked]>
> Cc:        John Podesta <[email-masked]>, Corey Ciorciari <
> [email-masked]>
> Date:        02/23/2016 04:13 PM
> Subject:        Re: URGENT: Making sure you are in the loop on this
> ------------------------------
>
>
>
> Gary - she is on record against the Roberts bill.  We will reaffirm that.
>
>
>
> On Feb 23, 2016, at 4:39 PM, Gary HIRSHBERG <[email-masked]*
> <[email-masked]>> wrote:
>
> Jake, take a look at what I already sent and then if you want some
> specific insights about the Roberts bill or anything else, I can get you
> whatever else you need. Thanks, Gary
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Feb 23, 2016, at 1:35 PM, John Podesta <[email-masked]*
> <[email-masked]>> wrote:
>
> + jake
> Gary can you send some points along.
> JP
>
> On Tuesday, February 23, 2016, Gary HIRSHBERG <[email-masked]*
> <[email-masked]>> wrote:
> Hi John, the Roberts bill was introduced on Friday and it is even worse
> than what I had expected.  Since he appears to have the votes in Committee,
> this is going to be a MAJOR floor fight that will garner a lot of media and
> citizen attention in the next three weeks which is obviously a critical
> time for HRC.
>
> And as I predicted, Bernie has already come out strong against the bill:
> *http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-agriculture*
> <http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/morning-agriculture> ...which is going
> to play very well with his target (millennials).  I* can't stress too
> strongly how important it is for HRC to come out strongly against the
> Roberts bill *and for citizens having the right to know and choose
> whether to buy foods with GMO ingredients.  And the sooner she can do this
> the better, so (a) she does not appear to be lagging too much behind Bernie
> and (b) because her assertion of leadership in standing up for consumers
> now would significantly boost citizens' confidence about her readiness to
> stand up for average folks and address the tough issues.
>
> As for the message, I am more than happy to help frame talking points if
> you want to send someone my way (a sample of key points is below).  But one
> important thing for you and her to know is that Tom Vilsack's efforts to
> find a compromise solution have really been pushed aside for now, and so
> while in Iowa she paid some respect to his idea of a QR code/scanning
> approach, because of the nature of what Roberts is proposing, that idea is
> really irrelevant now.  This is truly a yes or no issue..as to whether
> senators will support blocking or supporting citizens rights to know.  As I
> said to her last July, regardless of how she or any of us feel about
> genetically engineered foods, that is a separate issue from whether or not
> people have the rights to know and choose whether to buy them for their
> families.  She MUST come out against this asap.
>
> Here are some talking points to consider.
>
> Let me know how I can be helpful.  FYI I will be at the NYC finance
> gathering next week for about 2 hours (3-5pm). I hope to see you then.
>
> * Gary Hirshberg Chairman, Stonyfield Farm*
>
> * Chairman, Just Label It *
>
> <inline>
>
>

-- 
Corey Ciorciari
Policy Department
Hillary for America
@CoreyCiorciari