While the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday passed a GMO labeling bill by Chairman Pat Roberts of Kansas, the bill faces an uphill battle in the full Senate.
The bill passed the committee 14 to 6 and heads on to the Senate floor.
Ranking Committee Democrat, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan does not support the bill, and other Democrats in the full Senate may follow Stabenow’s lead.
Stabenow said she could not support anything other than mandatory labeling.
The Roberts proposal sets a voluntary labeling standard.
Politico reports it is not clear where the behind-the-scenes negotiations for a bipartisan compromise stand, but work will continue to get a solution that can pass the Senate.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar was one of three Democrats to approve the bill in committee.
However, she told reporters she does not think the bill she approved would pass the entire Senate without amendment.
She said her vote was to advance the bill because a patchwork of state laws will not work and that she believes in science.
Klobuchar indicated she is working on an amendment to be offered on the floor of the Senate.
