HSUS Update

Late last spring, the Humane Society of the U.S. announced it was forming a National Agriculture Advisory Council —after forming 11 at the state level in the past four years — many in animal agriculture were wary and skeptical of the move.

Well, based on reports this week as many as six farmers have left HSUS councils within the last year. Field Reporter Susan Allen shares that HSUS is encouraging Colorado citizens to vote no on Amendment 71.

Allen: "Interestingly enough, in a recent HSUS news release, their president and CEO Wayne Pacelle stated: 'Colorado's Amendment 71 is an attempt by special interests and their political allies to make it practically impossible for citizen organizations to qualify and pass constitutional amendments by ballot initiative. The only entities who will be able to use the process will be corporations and billionaires with virtually limitless resources.'"

Thanks, Susan. That sure sounds like the pot calling the kettle black as Colorado's agriculture and rural organizations are pretty much all in agreement that the passage of Amendment 71 will stop outside groups like HSUS from easily changing the state's constitution. Amendment 71 adds a signature gathering requirement whereby proponents of an amendment would be required to collect signatures from ALL 35 Colorado State Senate districts, rather than gathering the minimum of signatures from just urban, densely populated city centers.