© 2024 KLCC

KLCC
136 W 8th Ave
Eugene OR 97401
541-463-6000
klcc@klcc.org

Contact Us

FCC Applications
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Washington Voters Defeating GMO Labeling Initiative

Austin Jenkins

A record twenty-two million dollars in opposition spending appears to have paid off for grocery, seed and pesticide makers. Washington voters  Tuesday night were rejecting a ballot measure to require GMO-labeling of foods. Opponents declared victory.

The music at the Yes on 522 party in Seattle’s Pioneer Square was upbeat. But the speeches were of the more subdued variety. Trudy Bialic of PCC Natural Markets is a campaign spokesperson. She addressed the crowd after early returns showed the measure down by nearly double digits.

Trudy Bialic: “It’s been a heck of a ride and I really, really think that no matter what we’re going to have labeling and I sure hope it’s in July of 2015.”

That’s when labeling would begin if Initiative 522 passed. Supporters still hold out hope that late arriving ballots could close the gap. One speaker suggested that, if nothing else, the campaign succeeded in getting the term GMO on the radar of most Washington voters. A similar measure was defeated in California last year. And another could be on the ballot in Oregon next year.

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."
Related Content