Senator introduces meat inspection legislation

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says he’s “very saddened” to hear about the slayings Wednesday of three federal meat inspectors at a sausage factory in California. The plant owner is charged in the shootings. The factory recently reopened after being closed for health violations. Also on Wednesday, Harkin introduced a measure aimed at giving federal meat and poultry inspectors -more- power to shut down plants.Harkin’s bill stems from the case of a Texas beef-packing plant which was ordered to close by the U-S-D-A after failing a series of salmonella tests. Courts later said the inspectors didn’t have the authority to shut down a facility.