BILL NUMBER: AB 199
VETOED DATE: 10/11/2013
To the Members of the California State Assembly:
I am returning Assembly Bill 199 without my signature.
This bill would require the state to implement a preference for
agricultural products grown in California and offered by a California
company. This preference would be difficult to comply with and
quite onerous. Every purchase, even a single bag of apples, would be
affected.
I strongly support California's agricultural industry and encourage
all state-run institutions to support local farmers and businesses.
In fact, state growers and processors have no trouble competing for ?
and winning ? the state's business. Today, approximately half of
all food the Department of General Services purchases for state
institutions comes from California, without a preference or a
mandate.
Sincerely,
Edmund G. Brown Jr.