by Javier Manjarres

The controversial ‘Food Safety Modernization Act’ was passed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday by a 73-25 margin, and amongst those who voted in support of the bill was Florida Senator George LeMieux.  Many conservatives view the bill as just another big-government confiscation of liberty coupled with yet another tax increase.  Luckily, typical Democrat ineptitude may stall the passage of this bill, as Democrats in the Senate have conveniently ignored Constitutional provisions that require all revenue-raising bills to originate in the House.  But constitutional concerns about the bill, let alone the bill’s merits, did not stop Senator LeMieux from voting in favor of the bill.  The bill authorizes the Food and Drug Administration to more tightly regulate and recall food products that are manufactured by food suppliers.

“Expanding the Food and Drug Administration will harm small businesses and raise prices at the grocery store — all without having a meaningful impact on food safety.” – Senator Tom Coburn

The next major piece of legislation that will come to a vote during this ‘Lame Duck’ legislative session is the misleadingly named ‘Dream Act’.  Democrats are desperate to pass this bill as the final days of their unchecked power in Congress comes to a close.  Senator LeMieux voted against the Dream Act back in September when Democrats tried to cram it down the public’s throats by attaching it to a defense authorization bill.  Yesterday, a spokesman for Senator LeMieux reiterated to the Shark Tank that “he plans on opposing” the Dream Act.

Senator LeMieux has been targeted by pro-Dream Act groups that have tried very hard to persuade him to support the bill, but it does not appear it’s going to happen.  The Dream Act, as we have previously documented, has little to do with making children legal citizens so much as it is about granting amnesty to as many illegal aliens as possible.  LeMieux’s term as Senator ends in January, when now Senator-elect Marco Rubio will take over.  Rubio is already on record with his strong opposition to the Dream Act.