Russ Feingold: “I rise to introduce a measure that will begin to restore to many dairy farmers throughout the nation, part of the market…”

“I rise to introduce a measure that will begin to restore to many dairy farmers throughout the nation, part of the market power they have lost in recent years. Mr. President, when dairy farmers across the country voted on a referendum two years ago--perhaps the most significant change in dairy policy in sixty years--they didn't actually get to vote. Instead, their dairy marketing cooperatives will cast their votes for them. This procedure is called bloc voting and it is used all the time. Basically, a Cooperative's Board of Directors decides that, in the interest of time, bloc voting will be implemented for that particular vote. In the interest of time, but not always in the interest of their producer owner-members. Mr. President, I do think that bloc voting can be a useful tool in some circumstances, but I have serious concerns about its use in every circumstance. Farmers in Wisconsin and in other states tell me that they do not agree with their Cooperative's view on every vote. Yet, they have no way to preserve their right to make their single vote count.”