Author: Shelley Powers

Categories
Critters Government Legal, Laws, and Regs

Deep analysis

update

As was pointed out to me tonight, there was a SB 795 passed last year, that removed the exemption for shelters from the fees collected.

So not only is the Missouri Legislature protecting the puppy mill industry, it is deliberately doing everything in its power to add additional financial burden on to animal shelters and rescues—the people actually having to clean up the mess the puppy mills leave.

I’ve never seen such assholes in my life—and you voted them into office, folks.

I’ve also had to file a complaint against the Department of Agriculture with the Attorney General tonight, because of what I perceive to be violation of Sunshine Laws.

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I’m writing up a deeper analysis of the impact on existing laws with Prop B as compared to SB 113. I know that the HSUS has done the same with a one page talking points comparison, but I want to take it deeper. I don’t know if it will make a difference in the long run, but I want to record facts: not hyperbole, not politician bullshit speak.

One error I had made in comments here and there is the fact that SB 113 would require license fees from the shelters. I’m assuming that the exemption of licensing fees for shelters/rescues that exists in ACFA would still apply with SB 113.

However, there is no exemption for pet stores and dog boarding companies, so I imagine they’ll be just peachy keen at having to pay more because of the commercial breeders. But then, they’re not farmers, so they don’t count.

Categories
Critters

Misuse and abuse of the Constitution

I’ve read a document going around that supposedly forms the primary arguments for SB 113. I’ll have more on this next week, after I gather together all the bits.

One part of it quotes section 2 of the Missouri State Constitution Bill of Rights:

Section 2. That all constitutional government is intended to promote the general welfare of the people; that all persons have a natural right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the enjoyment of the gains of their own industry; that all persons are created equal and are entitled to equal rights and opportunity under the law; that to give security to these things is the principal office of government, and that when government does not confer this security, it fails in its chief design.

Too bad the same people didn’t spend more time on Section 1.

Section 1. That all political power is vested in and derived from the people; that all government of right originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole.

Categories
Critters Legal, Laws, and Regs

House hearing on SB 113

The House Agriculture Committee will hold a public hearing on SB 113 & 95, Tuesday, March 29th, at 12:00pm. The location for the meeting is House Hearing Room 6.

To repeat, this is a public hearing, which means all interested members of the public are invited to attend and testify.

Categories
Critters Legal, Laws, and Regs

HB 131 heard in the House

I had thought that the representatives were no longer going to follow through on HB 131, but evidently it was taken up for Perfection today. Darn, I wanted to hear the debate.

Luckily, Jason Rosenbaum did catch some audio of the testimony, and has posted an excerpt. In the audio, you’ll hear Representative Riddle spend her time quoting from the 1986 arrest records for Wayne Pacelle from the HSUS. Yes, I would think that a 1986 arrest for an individual would be out of scope for this bill. She also called him a terrorist, and continued her rant until the Representative from St. Louis raised a point of order.

This type of name calling has happened all too frequently: those who testify “for” these bills to gut Proposition B spend all their time trashing HSUS. Hello! Did you happen to forget that over half the people in this state voted for Proposition B!?

Getting tired of the absolute lack of respect these representatives have for the voters in this state.

If I find links to more audio for the testimony, will post.

Categories
Critters Political

Email to Representative Jeanie Riddle

sent as email this evening to Representative Jeanie Riddle, based on an audio recording from HB 131 debate

Representative Riddle

I listened with shock to your accusations of domestic terrorism against Wayne Pacelle, and in fact against anyone who is a strong supporter of Proposition B.

I remind you that the citizen initiative process is part of our State Constitution. It was added for those times when the people of a state could not get satisfaction from their state representatives, typically because of undue influence by special interests among the legislative members.

Over 190,000 people signed to put Proposition B on the ballot. Over half the people (of this state) voted for this bill in the last election.

Since then we have been insulted and maligned by various members of the Missouri State Senate and House of Representatives. We have been told that we were “misled”, which is just another way of these reps saying we were stupid to vote for Proposition B.

Now, in your rant on the House floor, you not only demeaned the dignity of the Missouri House of Representatives, you called every supporter behind Proposition B a “domestic terrorist”.

How dare you disparage people who have committed no other act than to disagree with you. You should be ashamed of yourself, and your words. You should apologize on the floor for your outrageous accusations and slander, but I realize that anyone who thinks so little of the majority of Missourians would not possess the integrity to recognize how much you have wronged all of us.

Shelley Powers
Thankfully, not a member of your district