Congress Facing Bills
Over Price Disclosure

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — As a variety of states move to do likewise, U.S. Rep. John Thune, R-S.D., says he's drafting a federal bill to require meatpackers to report the prices they pay for livestock.

``It is a mandatory price reporting bill,'' he told reporters Friday. ``We are finalizing it right now. We have been working closely with the ag organizations, particularly the pork producers who, up until recently, were not in favor of mandatory price reporting but now are on board.''

It could be companion legislation to a bill Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., is sponsoring in the U.S. Senate, said Thune. ``It will be very similar to what the Senate is doing.''

Thune is looking for co-sponsors for the bill, which he said will be bipartisan. He said he will try to get a hearing for it in the House Agriculture Committee, of which he is a member. Thune said he thinks the committee leadership will cooperate.

``In terms of the entire Congress and the House, it's still a very tough sell,'' he said.

The current low prices help make the argument for such legislation, Thune said. ``It doesn't hurt when you talk about the price of hogs and the price of cattle and then look at the record profits some of the packers are turning in.''

The South Dakota Senate passed a bill Monday to require meatpackers to post the prices they pay each day for livestock. The measure now is in the House. Supporters said private contracts that meatpackers have with large feedlots reflect the true prices for livestock.