Iowa House hits the brakes on "cancer gag act" pesticide bill

DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa bill that opponents say would have given pesticide manufacturing companies legal immunity is now dead in the House.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley said on Thursday the bill didn't have enough support to pass in his chamber after the state Senate approved the bill last week.

"I think a lot of our members see both sides of this issue when it comes to making sure that we have a product that's actually made here in Iowa, that's an America made product.," Rep. Grassley said. "That we want to continue to have access, to know, being able to use things like glyphosate and use roundup. This product has been following all of the EPA approved labeling and so it's more about a labeling bill, but I think some of the narrative that's been out there maybe distracts from that and I think the caucus just is in a position where they're not sure they can support it at this point in time."

However, Republicans in both chambers are at odds.

Most GOP Senators joined supporters who don't want to lose access to pesticide products and believe companies who are following the law shouldn't face litigation.

"I suppose the House can be entitled to their wrong opinion," Senate President Amy Sinclair said. "I believe whole heartedly that the bill we passed doesn't prevent anybody from seeking justice if they're damaged by a company. But I also believe that to have a proper system of justice we have to make sure that, that individuals or companies can't be sued for following the law."

Meanwhile, Democrats are thrilled the bill won't be moving forward right now. They sided with opponents who worry it'll be harder to take companies to court if someone is harmed by using their products.

The bill, dubbed by opponents as the "Cancer Gag Act," states that a warning label on pesticide products would fulfill any requirement to warn consumers of health or safety risks. Supporters of the bill told Iowa's News Now earlier this week the bill simply would've backed up federally approved pesticide labeling laws.

The Modern Ag Alliance said farmers overwhelmingly support the legislation, pointing to a survey they conducted finding 94% of farmers, and 71% of all Iowans, oppose litigation that could limit access to crop protection products.

But Food & Water Watch, a D.C.-based non-governmental organization group, highlighted on Thursday polling from the Iowa Association for Justice that found 89% of Iowa voters oppose pesticide immunity legislation.

Food & Water Watch Iowa Organizer Jennifer Breon said in a press release that 31 groups, representing tens of thousands of Iowans, signed on to a letter to the House Thursday morning, urging lawmakers to stop the bill from moving forward.

“Bayer’s Cancer Gag Act has no place in Iowa. This cruel ploy to protect private profits at the public’s expense is no response to the public health reckoning we face," Breon said. "News that this dangerous bill does not have the votes to pass will be music to the ears of the overwhelming majority of Iowans who fought tirelessly to stop Bayer’s power grab. Speaker Pat Grassley and his Iowa House must send Bayer a clear message: no Cancer Gag Act in Iowa. Not now, and not ever.”