Arizona Dairy Brings Challenge to Milk-Pricing Law Before U.S. Supreme Court

The owners of a Yuma, Arizona-based dairy have filed a petition for review
before the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking a hearing on their challenge to the
Milk Regulatory Equity Act of 2005, which apparently requires independent
producer-handlers to join a dairy cooperative or pay federal marketing fees.
Hettinga v. United States, No. 12-506 (U.S., petition for writ of certiorari filed
October 19, 2012). According to the Hettingas, one of the few remaining
independents in the United States, lawmakers singled out their dairy when
enacting a law that has forced them to sell milk at a higher price than they
want to charge. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the district court
that the law did not constitute a bill of attainder nor did it violate the Equal
Protection and Due Process clauses. Hettinga v. United States, No. 11-5065
(D.C. Cir., decided April 13, 2012).