By Eric Stock
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate is expected to vote as early as Tuesday on a measure that would block state labeling requirements for genetically modified foods.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said he believes there’s no risk eating genetically-modified foods, but there are environmental concerns, particularly from chemical runoff going into the water supply.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Durbin on WJBC.
“There are folks who say it isn’t dangerous, and you can consume it and it won’t hurt you, other say ‘I have a right to know,’ ” Durbin said.
Durbin said it’s become one of the most hotly debated issues he has seen in Washington.
“It is the darndest debate I have ever run into,” Durbin said.
New education secretary
President Barack Obama’s nomination for U.S. Education Secretary passed the Senate in a 49-40 vote on Monday. John King Jr. has served as acting secretary at the Education Department since Arne Duncan of Chicago stepped down in December.
Durbin told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin a priority for King should be student loan debt.
Durbin recalled meeting a young woman in Chicago last weekend who said she had $230,000 in loan debt after completing law school.
“I thought to myself, young lady your life is determined this is what’s going to dictate where you work, where you live, what you do for the next 10 or 20 years if you are lucky,” Durbin said.
King is only expected to serve the remaining year of Obama’s presidency.
Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.
