S 510 breezes through first step in the Senate

By Thomas Lifson

Senate Bill 510, a massive power grab by government -- as explained to AT readers yesterday by Michael Geer -- passed its first test with the support of every Democrat and 14 Republicans.

Lyndsey Layton of the Washington Post reports:

"The Senate voted 74 to 25 to begin debate on the bill, suggesting the measure has strong bipartisan support and good prospects for passage. The House approved its version more than a year ago, and food safety advocates have been pushing the Senate to act so differences between the two measures can be reconciled and the legislation signed into law by President Obama by the end of the lame-duck session.

Here are the Republicans who voted to give sweeping powers over our food supply to our government masters.

Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Enzi (R-WY)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Johanns (R-NE)
LeMieux (R-FL)
Lugar (R-IN)
Snowe (R-ME)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)

It's all being done in the name of food safety, of course, and who is against that? Good intentions, don'cha know. The road to passage is paved with good intentions. Trust us, we're from the government, and don't worry that we'll use all that power irresponsibly.

Updated and correcred at 8:24 EST. Hat tip to reader 1greatamerican for clarifying that the vote was to begin debate, not final passage.