In a Herald interview April 6, 2003 Farr admitted his greatest weakness is "That I don't have enough patience to work with people who want to remain ignorant." Compare that idea with Farr's actual votes in Congress and ask yourself is he dogmatically ignorant, or are his horribly environmentally damaging votes intentional?

None of the following Congressional actions are accidental or negligent. Almost all are deliberate, intentional planned efforts with Farr and his staff knowing the probable harmful impacts.
 

HUMAN HEALTH:

1. Cancer causing chemicals in food.
Farr voted to repeal the 1958 Delany Act, which had prohibited any CANCER causing pesticides or ingredients, added to food.

Farr can correctly claim that in exchange for this awful decision legally newly authorizing known carcinogens in food, children's food must now be protected be a ten fold reduction in existing pesticide levels. What Farr won't bring up is that he hasn't introduced any legislation to even try to return to the Delany standard of Zero known carcinogenic pesticides in our food.

2. Children's Health and Lives Risked - Nerve Gas Manufacturers Protected by Sam Farr

Farr has constantly blocked protection for schoolchildren and neighbors from Methyl Bromide nerve gas (also an ozone layer depleter). This cumulative poison is heavier than air and drifts downhill to elementary schools. School evacuations are common. Children and neighbors have been hospitalized for poisoning. Farr refused to oppose Clinton's efforts to stop the phase-out of the poison. 

More than 18 Californians have died from Methyl Bromide poisoning. Most people only think they have the flu, when they are actually being poisoned. All Farr could manage to offer up the is the meaningless "I've gotten more money for Methyl Bromide alternatives research than any other congressman." Wake up Sam - this is a nerve gas seriously and cumulatively harming children. Why are you protecting the manufacturers and wealthy growers?

As of August 2000, Strawberry Growers are closing because of a glut of strawberries. An October Court decision rewarded $10 million to a person poisoned by Methyl Bromide.

* Farr's "Co-Chairs" for a congressional re-election 1998 included:

* Rick Antle (Tanimura &Antle Farms) & Bob Nielsen

3. Farr supports the Carmel Valley Dam

(Sam Farr Editorial in the Carmel Pine Cone July 27, 95)
 

4. Farr supported the Hatton Canyon Freeway.

Farr refused to lift a finger to stop this highly controversial project. Claims he has no authority even though 80% of it would be paid for with Federal funds.
 

5. Farr supports All Fort Ord Conversion actions including:

a) Hazardous Burning of Ammunition and smoke from poison oak harming thousands of captive (Spreckels school) children and homebound seniors downwind in Salinas Valley.

b) Construction of 72,000 person Ft. Ord city.

6. Farr has even fought the preparation of an environmental impact study (an EIS). 

After our Peninsula was fumigated by chokinig clouds of smoke from the Army's out of control October 2003 Fort Ord burn , Farr promised he would hold a Congressional hearing on the burning. As of Oct 2004 - we are still waiting...

7. As Supervisor in 1980's Farr Voted For CARMEL VALLEY RANCH and Golf Course & its imaginary Tularictos Aquifer. Now our Peninsula is enduring a water supply emergency.

7. Does Farr Support Rancho San Carlos? (At 30 square miles it is American's largest subdivision - 325 mansions and a golf course)

Farr's "Co-Chairs" for a congressional re-election 1998:

* Tom and Alayna Gray" principals in RANCHO SAN CARLOS, and Maureen Wruck (RANCHO SAN CARLOS employee with hubby Joel Panzer)
 

8. Farr changed his vote at the last minute and became THE swing vote for NAFTA - after previously opposing it. 

NAFTA, The Race to the Bottom, insures weakest possible environmental and employment laws in the Americas. The Clinton Administration used its authority under NAFTA to overturn our 15 year old ban on the production and importation of PCBs: We now import PCBs from Canada and Mexico, to keep US hazardous waste incinerators profitable!

Rumor at the time was he struck a deal with Clinton to campaign for him. Farr's office denied that, but sure enough, next campaign Clinton showed up (at CSUMB), and showed up again later for the Oceans Conference. Farr claimed he only supported NAFTA because of the side deals made for environmental and worker protection. After ten years of NAFTA, in 2004, not a single one of Farr's side aggreements has been enforced.

Farr now boasts "I'm very proud of my votes on NAFTA and GATT." MIIS Oct 23, 2004 

9. Farr voted for GATT.

GATT - Race to the Bottom II, insures the weakest possible environmental laws worldwide. On 4/29/96 the U.S. lost its *FINAL APPEAL* at GATT's new World Trade Org. (WTO), of U.S. regulations created under the Clean Air Act. The U.S. now must choose between two equally unacceptable options: allow Venezuela to import dirtier gasoline into the United States, or pay $150 million in trade sanctions for new trade benefits to Venezuela. Under GATT's new WTO -- pushed strongly by Farr -- we must now PAY POLLUTERS NOT TO POLLUTE!
 

11. Farr voted for a $3 Billion Columbian Military Subsidy.

*** In Oct 2002 Farr voted for the largest Military Budget Increase since the Cold War.

LOGGING SUPPORTER

12. Farr voted for the Quincy Library Bill in 1997. The Bill would (at least) double (possibly quadruple) logging in California National Forests at Lake Tahoe.

13. Farr has repeatedly and arrogantly refused to co-sign the bipartisan McKinney-Leach Bill to End Commercial Logging in our National Forests.

Only 4 percent of all US logging comes from OUR National Forests (we don't need to log them), yet Farr has persistently, repeatedly and now arrogantly, refused to sign this bill supported by 70% of the American public. (The bill has 91 bipartisan Congressional co-sponsors as of Sept 2000.)

(dd: Farr finally signed the bill in early 2002, but only after a huge effort by a lot of concerned people were finally joined by the Sierra Club. It remains an open question whether he will sign it again for the 2003 session)

Farr's environmental voting has been so bad he was the only California Democrat Congressman for which the Sierra Club delayed their 2002 endorsement - perhaps until Farr changed his position on the McKinney-Leach Bill.

14. Farr was a key swing vote FOR Sugar subsidies Feb 1996 (217-208)

15. Farr was a key swing vote FOR Peanut subsidies Feb 1996 (212-209)
 

-END (for now)