President-elect Donald Trump is considering Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter for secretary of agriculture, despite his record — or maybe because of it — of opposing animal rights activists, says Politico. In Idaho, Otter signed the country’s toughest “ag gag” law, which carries up to a year in jail and a maximum fine $5,000 if a person is caught using a fake ID to access a farm and then film the activities there.
“The law (SB 1337) was written by the Idaho Dairymen’s Association after Mercy for Animals, a well-known animal activist group, released a graphic video in 2012 showing workers beating cows at an Idaho dairy farm,” says Politico. “Sponsored by Republican State Sen. Jim Patrick, the bill passed by overwhelming majorities in both of Idaho’s chambers in February 2014.”
The law has not yet gone into effect, though, since animal welfare groups and journalists won a lawsuit against the state in a Boise federal district court, arguing that the rule violated the First Amendment. The state is appealing the court’s decision.
SB 1337 “is about agriculture producers being secure in their property and their livelihood,” Otter said when he signed the bill. “… No animal rights organization cares more or has more at stake than Idaho farmers and ranchers do in ensuring that their animals are healthy, well treated and productive.”
Otter owns a ranch and was previously a potato farming executive. He was married to potato heiress Gay Simplot of Simplot International and worked for the family business for 30 years, becoming president in 1979. He and his wife divorced in 1992.
“It doesn’t bode well to have someone who doesn’t want transparency in the way America’s food is raised,” said Chris Green, the executive director of Harvard’s Animal Law and Policy program about Otter’s potential nomination as ag secretary.
But Idaho farm groups feel differently. “We’re obviously very pleased with Gov. Otter, not only what he’s done for agriculture, but what he’s done for Idaho as a whole,” said Bob Naerebout, executive director of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association. “He’s an extremely good businessman, he’s an extremely good ambassador. If he were to get the nomination it would be a great thing for our nation and a little bit of a loss for Idaho.”