AR-News: (PA) Fw: Humane USA's Political Animal #3

[Elizabeth Forel]

humaneusa at humaneusa.org>



Pennsylvanians: Arlen Specter Is the Choice in Senate Republican Primary 
Pennsylvania Republicans have an easy choice on April 27th, in the
competitive primary between incumbent U.S. Senator Arlen Specter and his
challenger, U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey. Humane USA strong favors Senator
Specter in the Republican primary. Specter has cosponsored both the
Downed Animal Protection Act (S. 1298) and the Animal Fighting
Prohibition Enforcement Act (S. 736). He also signed a letter urging an
increase in funding for animal welfare programs, and he has been closely
aligned with fellow Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, one of the
Senate’s strongest animal advocates, on humane matters. In the past,
Specter has voted to halt funding for the use of steel-jawed leghold
traps on national wildlife refuges and to halt U.S. funding for
international programs that promote setting nets on dolphins as a means
of catching the tuna that swim below them. Specter secured a score of 80
on the Humane Scorecard in 2003, while Rep. Pat Toomey scored a very poor
22. Toomey voted against amendments to protect downed animals, to halt
the killing of bison in Yellowstone National Park, and to stop the
practice of bear baiting on federal lands. Pennsylvania Republicans
should vote on April 27th, and vote for Specter. 
Oklahoma Supreme Court Upholds Anti-Cockfighting Ballot Initiative 
On March 30, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the
state’s voter-approved cockfighting law, approved in November 2002, is
constitutional. The ruling by the state’s high court negates injunctions
on the law requested by the cockfighters and imposed by dozens of locally
elected judges. Dozens of cockfighting pits will be forced to close or
face potential prosecution from county and state authorities. The Tulsa
World – which has helped to lead the fight to ban cockfighting in the
state – wrote, “The decision is a victory not only for Oklahoma voters
and the initiative petition process, but for the entire state. This ugly
stigma that has plagued the state for year will soon, barring any bizarre
developments such as some misguided action by the Legislature, be a thing
of the past.” 

Comments for USDA’s Ruling on Downed Cows Needed Soon 
On December 30, 2003, the USDA implemented several measures to address
public concern over the discovery of mad cow disease (BSE) in the United
States, including a ban on the slaughter of downed cattle, animals too
sick to stand, for human food. Alarmingly, agribusiness and their
legislative allies in Washington, DC are lobbying the USDA to lift the
downer ban. It is absolutely critical for USDA to hear from citizens who
support the ban on slaughtering downed animals for human food. Please
send comments, and encourage your friends, family and others to as well.
Urge the USDA to retain their ban on downer cows, and urge the agency to
expand the ban on downers to include other species, such as sheep and
pigs. This public comment period provides a rare opportunity to formally
express concerns about the irresponsible and inhumane marketing and
slaughter of downed animals. Please fax (202-690-0486) or email
(FSIS.Regulations at usda.gov) your comments today! 

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