CNN: Court: 'Got Milk?' campaign illegally milks farmers

[JM]

<SNIP>
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AP) -- The catchy "Got Milk?" dairy promotion -- famous for plastering milk mustaches on celebrity faces -- violates the free speech rights of farmers forced to pay for the ads, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.
</SNIP>
http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/02/24/got.milk.suit.ap/index.html

What kills me is CNN missed the boat on this one. These are PSAs run by the Dept of Ag, but they are requiring a payment for the ads by ranchers and farmers. That represents a tax on a specific industry or class that is not approved by Congress and as such is illegal. The money paid by all farmers for these types of ads (Beef and Pork included) should be refunded with penalty. If the Dept of Ag wants to run these ads, then get them budgeted by Congress.

Later,
JM

[sybylla]

1. It's about time

They have been taking this money from farmers for decades. It's nice to see this involuntary program being brought to an end.

[JM]

2. It kills me nobody is seeing this...

...for what this really is though. Free speech issues aside, it is an unlegislated tax.

JM