The Senate Agriculture Committee is set to vote today on the privatization of grain inspections. The provision is part of the reauthorization of the U. S. Grain Standards Act (S. 1582), which originally established a standardized and uniform grain inspection system for both domestic and exported U.S. grains. According to BNA's Daily Report for Executives (subscription only), industry is divided on support of the measure, which may save the grain industry money but could also damage the credibility of U.S. grain inspections. Inspection is a vital part of the enforcement of government regulations and standards. It is also an inherently governmental function necessary both to hold private industry accountable as well as to maintain the public trust's of the private the sector. It remains to be seen whether this bill is an anomaly or part of a larger trend in the privation of government.