AR-News: Humane USA E-Newsletter

[Political Animal]

 Below is the latest e-newsletter from Humane USA, the
animal protection PAC.
----

Will State Governors Honor their Word to Voters on
Animal Protection? 

Three gubernatorial candidates were endorsed and
supported by HumaneUSA because they made promises on
critical animal protection issues in their states. All
three won their elections and now have a chance to
live up to their campaign promises. Find out where
they stand now, and why it’s critically important for
animal advocates to hold their feet to the fire. 

Michigan’s Granholm May Sign Bill Allowing First Dove
Hunt in 99 Years 
In 2001, while Jennifer Granholm was campaigning in
Michigan’s gubernatorial race, she responded to the
following query on HumaneUSA’s official questionnaire:
“If the legislature finally did pass a dove hunting
bill, would you veto it?” Her answer was plain and
unmistakable: “Yes.” Based on her answers HumaneUSA
endorsed Granholm, and Michigan animal advocates
helped her win the election. Now, however, a dove
hunting bill is heading to the Governor’s desk, and
news reports indicate that she may support a
“compromise” bill that would allow dove hunting in
part of the state. The mourning dove is Michigan’s
“Official Bird of Peace” and has not been hunted since
1905. Every major newspaper in the state opposes a
dove hunting season, as these birds do not pose
nuisance problems, are not overpopulated, have very
little meat on their tiny bodies, and actually help
Michigan’s farmers by eating weed seeds on the ground.
The dove hunting bill will be a litmus test for
Governor Granholm’s record on animal protection
issues—she can keep her word to Michigan’s voters and
maintain the century-old tradition of protecting
doves, or she can sign a bill initiating the cruel
slaughter of these gentle and inoffensive songbirds. 

For more information: 

http://action.fund.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=10141


http://hsus.org/ace/20936 

http://action.fund.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=10141


Maine’s Baldacci Enters Fight to Protect
Unsportsmanlike Bear Hunting Methods 
Another gubernatorial candidate who sought out
HumaneUSA’s endorsement was John Baldacci, now
Governor of Maine. During his campaign, Baldacci
promised that he would stay neutral on a ballot
measure to ban the unsportsmanlike bear hunting
methods of baiting, hounding, and trapping, and that
he would instruct the Department of Inland Fisheries
and Wildlife not to interfere. A recent news article
in the Portland Phoenix titled “Baldacci Betrayal?”
recounted Baldacci’s phone conversation with
HumaneUSA’s Wayne Pacelle and Maine animal advocate
Cindy Lowry, in which Baldacci promised to stay out of
the fray. HumaneUSA endorsed Baldacci and sent a
mailing to 10,000 Maine voters urging his election. In
his first year of office, however, after hundreds of
Maine volunteers gathered a record-breaking 103,000
signatures of Maine voters to place the initiative on
the ballot, Governor Baldacci announced his opposition
to the measure and has become an active opponent,
working closely with groups such as the Sportsmen’s
Alliance of Maine and the Maine Bowhunters
Association. Even more outrageously, Baldacci has
directed the state wildlife agency to actively oppose
the measure, even though state agencies typically do
not lobby on political issues. Baldacci’s betrayal is
a slap in the face to Maine voters. 

For more information: 

http://fairbearhunting.org 




New Jersey’s McGreevey Takes a Second Look at Bear
Hunt 
Animal advocates in New Jersey were incensed last year
when Governor James McGreevey allowed the first bear
hunt in 33 years, after writing a letter in 2000 as
Mayor of Woodbridge opposing a bear hunt, and then
campaigning on the promise of no bear hunting in his
gubernatorial race. Hunters killed 328 bears in a
six-day season last December, backed publicly by
Governor McGreevey and Environmental Commissioner
Bradley Campbell. But now, thanks to pressure from
animal advocates, the two officials have stated that
they do not want the bear hunt repeated. Campbell sent
a letter to the Fish and Game Council asking it not to
approve a bear hunt for 2004, stating, “At the time of
the Council’s adoption of the Game Code last year, the
Fish and Wildlife Division presented black bear
population estimates to the Council of approximately
3,200 animals. The most recent estimate by our black
bear biologists presents an estimate of less than half
that number.” The Council, however, rejected the
advice from the Governor’s office, voting 8 to 3 to
approve a 2004 bear hunt. The Governor can still step
in and halt the bear hunt—and even initiate broader
reforms to change the composition of the pro-hunting
Fish and Game Council—making it vital that he felt the
political pressure from animal advocates. 

For more information

http://savenjbears.com 

http: //nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2004/04_0016.htm 


Support Humane USA ! 
Humane USA needs your help to continue to hold
legislators accountable. We are the only national
political action committee representing the interests
of the animal protection community. Humane USA does
what other nonprofit humane organizations cannot do –
endorse and oppose candidates for office, raise funds
to donate to their campaigns, and ensure they keep
their promises by informing the public about their
positions. We are bipartisan and support or oppose
candidates based entirely on their stance on animal
protection issues. Please donate to Humane USA today. 

“Thanks to Humane USA, no longer can a legislator vote
against animal issues and expect no one to notice
before entering the voting booth.” 

-Humane USA contributor 

Donate online at: http://humaneusa.org 


Paid for by HumaneUSA, www.humaneusa.org,
and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's
committee. 
 
 
 



	
		
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