Regulation Killing Republicans in Wisconsin Won’t Kill Margarine Discrimination Law

Putting Your Butter Where Your Mouth Is

Wisconsin is a dairy state.  We know this because of Cheeseheads in Green Bay and because they put it on their license plate.  They also protect the local dairy industry.  Until 1967 one could not buy yellow colored margarine in the state.  And some restrictions on margarine are still around.



Butter Liberty Bell
No Margarine Was Harmed in Creating this Art



Wisconsin restaurants can't serve colored margarine tableside unless a customer makes a special request. The state also can't serve it to prison inmates, unless they are vegans or have some health concern that causes them to request it.

But Republicans, who now control the state government in Wisconsin believe in free enterprise, believe in less regulation and believe markets should be unrestricted.  And amazingly enough, one Republican state legislator is actually trying to put this belief into practice.

"Most people see this as a classic case of big government," said Republican state Rep. Dale Kooyenga, who has introduced a bill repealing these margarine laws. "And creating regulation that doesn't make sense." A version has also been introduced in the state Senate by Republican Van Wanggaard, where it awaits an initial hearing.

But don’t expect repeal to take place anytime soon.  After all there are a lot of other Republicans who want to use government to protect their constituents from those free markets.

Republican state Rep. Lee Nerison, chairman of the Assembly's agriculture committee, said he doesn't see Kooyenga's bill gaining a lot of support, especially from rural legislators. "I think we need to take a real close look at it, see if we really want to open up that can of worms," he said.

Actually most Republicans do favor opening up that can of worms, as long as Wisconsin butter is required to be spread on the worms.    And a nice side dish of hypocrisy rounds out tonight’s menu.