Could C.O.O.L. be repealed?

11/18/2004

With an emboldened Republican administration and a lame duck Senator Tom Daschle, efforts are under way to repeal the controversial Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law.

Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, was its champion when the bill was passed two years ago, but he lost his re-election bid in the November election. The law has remained under debate, and food processors and meatpackers and have continued to fight it.

Congress last year postponed most of its requirements until 2006. Now there are reports Republicans may slip a provision killing it into a spending bill they plan to finish before the Thanksgiving break.