Judge Stops Government from Fighting Prop 2

Marilyn Hall Patel, a U.S. District Judge in San Francisco, prohibited the American Egg Board (AEB) from spending $3 million in federal advertising dollars to put a stop to Proposition 2, a November ballot initiative that will give more humane treatment to farm animals (basically, it will let them move freely, be able to extend their legs in cages). The AEB is "funded by a national legislative checkoff" and "the board is appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture," according to its website. With that said, Judge Patel ruled against the Egg Board because it violates federal law for them to spend funds " "for the purpose of influencing governmental policy or action."