The last couple of days, I have written my congressmen again to try to convince them not to vote for a bill that is proposed before the Kansas legislature. The bill is designed to prohibit dairies from being able to label their milk, ice cream, and other products free from BGH (Bovine Growth Hormone) . I assume the bill was lobbied by the dairy industry...those who do use Bovine Growth Hormone in their products... because of the advantage that gives to those other dairies.

We don't know exactly what effects Bovine Growth Hormone has on us humans at this point but we do know that it shortens the life span of cows to be forced through the use of BGH to produce milk year around without the natural break.

Anyhow, one of our representatives from Independence, Kansas, informed me that he was mostly interested in advancing the issues of his own constituents. I'm from southern Montgomery County, Kansas and he represents northern Montgomery County. Strange...I had assumed he was elected to protect the interests of all Kansans. That told me a lot about him.

I haven't heard from all the others yet although I did hear from Senator Pat Roberts about another of my health issues. His point of view is that people just have to read labels and carefully choose the products that they buy. If that bill about prohibiting the labeling of the products that do not contain BGH is any indication of his interests however, that would be increasingly hard to do.

It is just so difficult to influence legislators to do the right thing. It is especially difficult if they only listen to the wishes of lobbyists who can contribute large amounts of money to their political campaigns.

I will continue to try though and I urge each of you readers to do the same. There are just so many unsafe products around anymore. We just can't afford to be complacent.

Margie, you should post that as a news story. Sounds like a first amendment issue to me...???