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Washington, DC - Senator Harkin Demands Agriprocessors Explanation from Bush Administration |
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Sen. Tom Harkin
Harkin, the Iowa Democrat who is chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, says it was clear by the middle of October that Agriprocessors was not fully paying cattle and poultry sellers.
The plant was processing poultry up to two weeks ago, Harkin said in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer.
"Companies that are insolvent or in breach of their obligation to pay promptly are not to continue operating," Harkin wrote.
The USDA enforces a federal law that's meant to protect farmers in the event that a packer gets in financial trouble. The law requires packers to hold livestock and proceeds from meat sales in trust until their cash suppliers are paid. But Harkin said unpaid claims against Agriprocessors "evidently far exceed" the amount in trust.
USDA spokesman Keith Williams disputed that statement, saying that the company has a bond as well as trust assets to cover claims and that the value of the claims is yet to be determined.
Williams also said it would be up to the courts to decide whether the plant was operating while it was unable to pay its suppliers.
The plant, which was once the nation's largest supplier of kosher meat, went into decline after an immigration raid in May and then filed for bankruptcy protection and stopped operations in November.
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Read Comments (22) — Post Yours »
1
Dec 02, 2008 at 08:12 AM CR Says:
Tom Harkin serves to remind us of the old saw; "The most dangerous place in Washington, D.C. is between a Senator and a camera." Tom just cannot help himself when silence is the better part of valor.
2
Dec 02, 2008 at 08:18 AM Him Says:
At least he is consistent - Harkin has been pounding the auto-makers lately, telling them to file for bankruptcy before they see a nickel in bailout money.
3
Dec 02, 2008 at 08:32 AM Anonymous Says:
Farmers make up the biggest special interest lobbying group in Washington DC. What other industries get paid by the government to burn their products if they can't sell them? And wow I'd love to have the IRS collect money from my customers when they don't pay!
4
Dec 02, 2008 at 08:45 AM Anonymous Says:
These guys from Iowa take the cake first they put him out of business then they blame washington for their loss of money.
Next they will come up with another phony balony 9000 count of charges to play the pr game & make themselves look good.
Now you have a good chulent of reasons to keep him shackled waist & feet without bail
Let's get real they lynched Agri. they could of given him reasonable fines show him how to become more compliant but they choose to lynch the company.
Sorry charlie when you cut the hand thats feeding you you are not going to get super the next day.
5
Dec 02, 2008 at 08:42 AM Anonymous Says:
how did bush let subprime with knowing they would not ge able to pay....
6
Dec 02, 2008 at 09:01 AM Anonymous Says:
Why isn't the good senator asking why Agri was treated so much more harshly than any other company in the country with identical styles of operation? Why is he not wondering why Agri was singled out for destruction?
7
Dec 02, 2008 at 10:16 AM Michoel Says:
“ Why isn't the good senator asking why Agri was treated so much more harshly than any other company in the country with identical styles of operation? Why is he not wondering why Agri was singled out for destruction? ”
You're saying that all other companies engage in massive bank fraud, sytematically pay less than minimum wage, and treat their workers like garbage?
If that were the case, why was it that Agriprocessors was unable to hold on to workers who came after the immigration raid. Wasn't it because Agriprocessors could't hold on to people who had other options, like the freedom to work at a plant where they would be treated better?
8
Dec 02, 2008 at 10:32 AM Anonymous Says:
Of course, its all Bush's fault!
It is the Prez' fault that the senate allows imbicels like Harkin to remain in office?
9
Dec 02, 2008 at 12:48 PM Anonymous Says:
Will Agri ask for a bailout like GM and Ford?
10
Dec 02, 2008 at 01:34 PM Anonymous Says:
“ You're saying that all other companies engage in massive bank fraud, sytematically pay less than minimum wage, and treat their workers like garbage?
If that were the case, why was it that Agriprocessors was unable to hold on to workers who came after the immigration raid. Wasn't it because Agriprocessors could't hold on to people who had other options, like the freedom to work at a plant where they would be treated better? ”
They were not paying less than minimum wage. They were, however, paying less than other meat-packing plants.
12
Dec 02, 2008 at 01:56 PM Milhouse Says:
So now he's worried about the farmers -- would those be the same farmers who sent diseased, dead, and dying chickens to Agri in its last weeks, knowing that it was not in a position to complain? That worker "Andres" or whatever his name was complained about the stench of the dead chickens, and quit his job rather than handle them - where do you suppose they came from, if not from these same farmers who now want to be paid?
13
Dec 02, 2008 at 03:18 PM Max Says:
Milhouse:
The chickens sent by the farmers were owned by Agri. and were contract grown. They were not "diseased, dead and dying" when they were sent. Agri failed to feed and water the chickens over a two or three day period while they waited to be shechted. As a result many died, sitting in coops on Agri trailers in the Agri parking lot.
In the midst of chaos no one told workers what to do and management was in a shambles. That wasn't the farmers fault. It wasn't the government's fault. It wasn't the union's fault. Like the rest of this sad saga, the fault lies at the feet of the owners.
14
Dec 02, 2008 at 04:01 PM Milhouse Says:
“ Milhouse:
The chickens sent by the farmers were owned by Agri. and were contract grown. They were not "diseased, dead and dying" when they were sent. Agri failed to feed and water the chickens over a two or three day period while they waited to be shechted. As a result many died, sitting in coops on Agri trailers in the Agri parking lot.
In the midst of chaos no one told workers what to do and management was in a shambles. That wasn't the farmers fault. It wasn't the government's fault. It wasn't the union's fault. Like the rest of this sad saga, the fault lies at the feet of the owners. ”
Max, slaughterhouses NEVER feed and water chickens - they have no facilities to do so. The chickens come from the farm, and are processed immediately. Those chickens came that way from the farm. When a business is in trouble, its suppliers know that they can get away with cheating, and that's exactly what happened.
15
Dec 02, 2008 at 04:20 PM Anonymous Says:
Farmers sending dead, diseased and dying chickens?? Why would Agri accept such chickens?? isn't it against halacha (and U.S. law) to shecht them?
To those who say Agri was unfairly targeted, is this true? Is there any evidence of this, or of anti-semitism (as some paranoids think)?
And even if there was unfair prosecution, AND C"V anti-semitism, does it excuse any of the "alleged" misdeeds??
If they paid minimum-wage they did they pay deserved overtime?? -- allegedly no.
A real Kiddush Hashem they've done. Embarrassing us all and making us look bad.
I guess Dina D'Malchuta Dina and Mentchlechkeit aren't in vogue any more.
And finally, #11, if you want to be paranoid about anti-semitism it is your choice, (forgetting of course that this country has been called a "medina shel chesed"), just don't spew your ignorance onto others, and DON"T call anybody (like #7- Michoel) an sob. SHAME ON YOU. AHAVAS YISROEL!! -- or at least respect for a fellow Yid, if not AHAVA??? HELLO??????
16
Dec 02, 2008 at 05:59 PM Milhouse Says:
Why would Agri accept such chickens? What could they do? When they were in good financial shape, they would have sent them back and refused to buy any more from those suppliers. And at that time the suppliers would never have dared do this. But in a weak financial state, they were easy prey for cheats. The fact is that these chickens were sent; that alone dispels all your speculation.
And no, of course they were not shechted. Why would you even think that?
17
Dec 02, 2008 at 05:56 PM Anonymous Says:
“ So now he's worried about the farmers -- would those be the same farmers who sent diseased, dead, and dying chickens to Agri in its last weeks, knowing that it was not in a position to complain? That worker "Andres" or whatever his name was complained about the stench of the dead chickens, and quit his job rather than handle them - where do you suppose they came from, if not from these same farmers who now want to be paid? ”
The chickens belonged to Rubashkin in a company called 'cottenballs'. Rubashkin was supposed to feed the chickens, but did not.
18
Dec 02, 2008 at 08:18 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Max, slaughterhouses NEVER feed and water chickens - they have no facilities to do so. The chickens come from the farm, and are processed immediately. Those chickens came that way from the farm. When a business is in trouble, its suppliers know that they can get away with cheating, and that's exactly what happened. ”
According to other articles, chicken feed was one of Agri's biggest expenses. While what you say may be true about suppliers sending dying chickens, apparently Agri normally did feed chickens prior to slaughter.
19
Dec 02, 2008 at 09:49 PM Anonymous Says:
oye!!
there is the government's side - Agri's side and somewheres in between all that is a whole long story of a wonderful family that treated everyone with utmost respect. If one needed a bed, a meal or whatever they were treated like royalty- please unless you really know the inside story do not judge them. Ya neva know what will come your way - why need a personal lesson ch'v? Last I checked we were not picked as jurors nor to be part of their din Torah - in light of recent events it is imperitive to find zchusim on yidden - not ch'v the opposite.
20
Dec 02, 2008 at 10:43 PM HAKOHEN Says:
#19 EMES VEYAYATZIV!!!!!! DEALOCH SANEH LECHAVEROCH LO SAAVID.
MAY HASHEM YISBORECH GIVE SHECHEL HAYOSHOR TO ALL THE MALSHINIM (our own nebach) AND ALL THE ONES WHO ARE MISCHABED BIKLOIN CHAVERO C.V. PLEASE DON'T FORGET THE HEILIGE MISHNE AL TODIN ES CHAVERCHO AD SHETAGIA LIMKOMO. HLEVAI YOU SHOUD NEVR BE IN THIS POSITION, HASHEM YERACHEM.
MAY WE ALL BE ZOCHE LBIAS MOSHIACH TZIDKEINU BIMEHAIRO BEYOMEINU, AMEN........
21
Dec 02, 2008 at 10:58 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Will Agri ask for a bailout like GM and Ford? ”
Great idea! Let them get in line.
22
Dec 03, 2008 at 05:12 AM Litvak Says:
“ Why would Agri accept such chickens? What could they do? When they were in good financial shape, they would have sent them back and refused to buy any more from those suppliers. And at that time the suppliers would never have dared do this. But in a weak financial state, they were easy prey for cheats. The fact is that these chickens were sent; that alone dispels all your speculation.
And no, of course they were not shechted. Why would you even think that? ”
Rubashkin owns a facility called Cottonballs. LLC. They get the baby chicks from the producer and raise them intil they get to the right size before slaughtering. Then Rubashkin sends them to his own slaughterhouse.
The chickens were not fed. Bad management led to Baal Tashchis. This was completely in Rubashkin's hands.
Again, apologizers spread outright lies and expect the oilem to believe them. There will not be shalom until the lies stop.
23
Dec 03, 2008 at 02:56 AM Anonymous Says:
my company has been targeted and harrassed by authorities for no reason but a payoff by my competition, so I know what it's like. I am sure they are not totally innocent but the situation with the illegal employees could have been handled in a better way, with fines, etc., without destroying the company. everything went downhill from there and it should never have happened that way.