CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Halfway into the W.Va. Legislature’s 60 day session, the House of Delegates voted to advance legislation prohibiting the use of a number of food dyes in the state.
House Bill 2354, approved by the House 79-17 Thursday, would amend existing law to include “butylated hydroxyanisole, propylparaben, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 2, FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, and FD&C Yellow No. 6″ as “adulterated” foods.
Pending Senate approval, the bill is expected to make it to Gov. Morrisey’s desk. And while it’s not yet clear if the Governor plans to sign it into law, this legislation has Delegates from the Southern Coalfields on separate sides of the issue.
“To some extent it’s about freedom,” said Del. Marty Gearheart (R-Mercer,) who voted against the bill. “None of the food additives have any definitive proof that they are dangerous. The FDA has approved them and they’re available in all other states currently, and it appears that what we’re doing is eliminating people from having the ability to choose a variety of products that are produced around the country that won’t be shipped into West Virginia now.”
“I think the food dye is something that needed to be done for a long time. The house said that today with an overwhelming vote,” said Del. Carl Roop (R-Raleigh,) who voted for the bill. “They spoke very firmly, bipartisan in favor of this prohibition.”
Meanwhile House Bill 2719, which would have expanded options for corporations to donate to political campaigns in the state, failed in the House by a 41-54 vote.
“I think it needed to be tightened up. I think there was a lot of loose ends,” said Del. Roop, who opposed the bill. “I like an individual that sponsors a person, supports a person. And I think individuals, that’s the way it should be.”
“I think some people got a different idea of that bill once it got onto the floor, and listened to the argument. It did allow corporate contributions, and an equal amount that personal contributions are currently allowed. So it did change election law a little bit, but hopefully brings transparency to that circumstance,” said Del. Gearheart, who supported the bill.”
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