Updates
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ORGANIC REVISIONS
Shortly after we released on our Web site Leora Broydo's exposé ("Organic Engineering," May/June), showing how the USDA caved in to biotech interests in its proposed list of standards for organic foods, USDA Secretary Dan Glickman announced that the standards will be revised to keep foods that are bioengineered, irradiated, and grown using sewage sludge off the list.
NO.1 IN CHINA, TOO
Loral Space & Communications CEO Bernard L. Schwartz, No. 1 on our most recent Mother Jones 400 list (May/June 1997), gave more than $600,000 to Democrats in 1995-96. Former DNC fundraiser Johnny Chung, No. 34 on the March/April 1996 list, gave $175,000 in 1993-94. Both sought the same thing—a more open China policy. It appears that they got what they wanted.
In May, the New York Times reported that Chung told Justice Department investigators that he funneled at least $80,000 in campaign contributions to Democrats from China's state-owned China Aerospace Corp. at a time when Clinton was easing restrictions on the launch of U.S.-made satellites by Chinese rockets.
The DOJ is also investigating whether Loral compromised national security by providing China with sensitive missile technology. During that investigation, Clinton gave Loral permission to launch one of its satellites in China. Congressional Republicans are planning hearings to look into the whole affair.
