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This is one of many of the hundreds
of letters of support which have been pouring in over the last
few days for Howard and Oprah.
This comes from California State
Assemblymember, Dick Floyd.
In California right now, agricultural interests are attempting
to pass a "veggie libel" law identical to the one
being used in Texas to prosecute Oprah and Lyman.
Dick Floyd's solution, as stated below, is to amend this
proposed bill to also prohibit disparagement of tuna, computers,
planes, oil and movies. If your review says that Titanic
is a clinker, be prepared to open your checkbook and pay a lot
of legal bills!
Dick? You've got my vote. How about Governor?
Hey, how 'bout President?
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Subject: California Veggie Libel
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 10:20:24 -0800
From: California State Assemblyman Dick Floyd (D-Los Angeles
County)
Organization: California State Assembly
To: HowardLyman@vegsource.org
Dear Mr. Lyman:
Here's what's I'm doing in California, vis-a-vis "veggie
libel."
I would also greatly appreciate it if you would pass this information
on to Ms. Winfrey. We emailed the material to her production
company, but I'd appreciate your handing it off as well.
Richard E. Floyd.
Member, California State Assembly
Representing Southeast Los Angeles County
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 300 words
Contact: Bob Giroux at 916/445-3134
CALIFORNIA STATE LAWMAKER PUSHES CHANGES ON "VEGGIE LIBEL
BILL," CALLS FOR END TO FISH-, FILM-, OIL-, PLANE AND COMPUTER-BASHING
California State Assemblyman Dick Floyd (D-Los Angeles County)
challenged state lawmakers to either protect the major industries
that power California's economy from being badmouthed or to
drop a controversial bill that makes it a crime to talk ill
of the state's farm products.
Floyd called for protections on the film and entertainment business,
aerospace, commercial fishing, petroleum and hi-technology products.
The amendments introduced Wednesday are meant to stop SB 1334,
by Sen. Jim Costa (D-Fresno). The so-called "veggie libel"
bill is similar to a law already on the books in Texas.
As a result of the Texas law, that state's cattle industry is
embroiled in what Floyd calls a "completely ridiculous"
lawsuit against talk show host Oprah Winfrey, whom the industry
wishes to silence. Winfrey told viewers that she will no longer
eat hamburgers.
"If we legislate political correctness for fruits and vegetables,"
said Floyd, "then it's time we stop badmouthing tuna."
Floyd predicts that the Senate bill will simply result in "more
SLAPP suits," a recent legal trend used primarily by large
corporations to cut off free-speech, by what are known as "strategic
lawsuits against public participation."
SLAPP suits achieve their objective by forcing defendants to
spend huge amounts of time and money defending themselves in
court, according to law professors George Pring and Penelope
Canan, authors of the 1996 book, SLAPPs: Getting Sued for Speaking
Out.
Floyd says the economy relies on industries he embraces in his
amendments. "Why stop with a law to protect the good name
of broccoli? Let's instruct people to repeat the phrases 'I
love my computer' and 'planes and oil products are good.' "
Floyd added, "Maybe we should be reminding film critics
about how important the movie industry is to this state, by
making the 'thumbs-down' a misdemeanor."
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