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Center Launches "Got Milked?" Advertising Campaign

In the release reproduced here, the Center for Individual Freedom Urged U.S. Dairy Producers to Join Fight Over Mandatory Advertising Programs.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Eric Schippers —703-535-5836

September 24, 2001

CIF LAUNCHES "GOT MILKED?" AD CAMPAIGN
Urges US Dairy Producers to Join Fight Over Mandatory Advertising Programs

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Center for Individual Freedom (CIF) today announced the launch of an advertising campaign aimed at enlisting the support of US dairy producers in the battle over the nation’s commodity checkoff programs.

Running in major dairy markets, the ad, entitled "Got Milked?" states that last year America’s dairy producers paid over $250 million into generic advertising programs that may be unconstitutional in light of a June 25, 2001 US Supreme Court decision. In United States v. United Foods, the court ruled that it violates the First Amendment for the government to compel mushroom producers to pay for industry advertising.

"We believe the United Foods decision could have a dramatic impact on other checkoff programs," said Eric Schippers, CIF’s executive director. "For CIF, this a pure First Amendment issue of compelled speech. For thousands of independent ranchers, farmers and dairy producers, this issue is about their livelihoods. These mandatory generic advertising programs typically favor the interests of one segment of their industries over another."

CIF filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief in the United Foods case, as well as in a case in the California Supreme Court involving mandatory advertising for plum growers (Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Veneman). Currently, CIF is assisting in two lawsuits filed by independent beef ranchers against the beef checkoff. One suit is in a US district court, the other is before the US Supreme Court.

"We’re urging dairy producers who oppose their checkoff program to take an active role in helping to put an end to these mandatory assessments," said Schippers. "We hope they’ll join cattlemen, pork producers, fruit growers and others in defending their constitutional freedoms."

Those wishing to contribute to a legal fund established by CIF to challenge checkoff programs, may call Eric Schippers at 703-535-5836. Copies of the "Got Milked?" ad, as well as CIF court filings, will be provided upon request and also may be read online at the Center’s website: www.cfif.org

Founded in 1998, the Center for Individual Freedom is a non-partisan, non-profit organization with the mission to protect and defend individual freedoms and individual rights guaranteed by the US Constitution.

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