Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) explaining his opposition to H.R. 2693, the Popcorn Workers Lung Disease Prevention Act, which would require OSHA to protect workers from breathing toxic chemicals used in artificial butter flavor:
“If there’s something wrong with popcorn, how did Orville Redenbacher live so long?”
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September 27, 2007 at 10:28 am
Brett
Someone who works at a facility still making this stuff needs to snag some and send it to his home
Direct action gives direct results
September 27, 2007 at 10:57 am
Shefaly
Possible rejoinder: “He may have been dying a slow death…”?
September 27, 2007 at 11:03 am
Celeste Monforton
His website http://flake.house.gov/ says that he works “to promote a conservative philosophy of less government, more freedom, and individual responsibility.”
I wonder if Rep. Flake met Mr. Eric Peoples or other workers who are suffereing severe lung damage because of exposure to butter-flavoring agents, if he’d sing the same tune about “individual responsiblity.” Mr. People correctly stated that he is just a family man who played by the rules and was working at the Jasper, MO popcorn plant. If the COMPANY and OSHA had taken their legal RESPONSIBILITIES seriously to protect workers’, Mr. Peoples would have more than 20% lung function.
Rep. Flake’s comment is a disrespectly insult.
September 27, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Christina
I sent him several diacetyl-related documents, enclosing a note reading: “While I am sure you made this comment facetiously and were not intending to poke fun at the microwave popcorn factory employees who are now on lung transplant waiting lists, your comment suggests that you would benefit from more information about this devastating occupational hazard and about the necessity of the timely establishment of an OSHA standard to protect America’s workers.”
September 28, 2007 at 1:50 pm
J Albers
He’s apparently living up to his last name.