12/18/06 Horse Slaughter Bill Dies

Horse Slaughter Bill Dies. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. The 109th Congress officially finished business this past weekend - and there's been a lot of talk about disappointment with failure to finish business on a number of issues relating to agriculture. But several ag groups are thrilled one agricultural bill died in the lame duck session of Congress. H.R. 503 and its Senate companion S. 1915 would have banned the slaughter and processing of horses. The House bill did not have the support of a single committee or U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns - but got the 218 votes needed for passage in September. John McBride - Director of Information for the Livestock Marketing Association - says Congress came too close to approving a very bad piece of legislation - which is why LMA joined with a coalition of organizations to oppose the bill. MCBRIDE: We had to stand up not only for our markets around the country but of course for their customers many of whom realize that at a certain point in a horses life the best thing to do is to send him on to slaughter at a plant that is regulated by the government where they are humanely slaughtered and it would have disrupted markets business and of course it would have put consigners and customers of the market to a real disadvantage. And that's not all. If approved - McBride says the horse slaughter ban could set a frightening precedent. MCBRIDE: This was an attempt to strip the right of private property away from people by telling you what you could do with your livestock and that is a very slippery slope to get on because once that happens what's to keep legislation from telling you what to do with your dog or cat. This was a real fear and a real concern. Fortunately - bipartisan leadership didn't allow the bill to be considered on the Senate floor. But McBride notes there's still reason for concern - as the horse slaughter ban will likely come up again in the 110th Congress. MCBRIDE: We won the battle but this war is far from over because there's one this those of us in agriculture and especially the livestock industry know about the folks on the other side is they will be back in January and we need to keep our guard up, we need to stay vigilante and I know LMA, we will certainly be calling on our members and their customers to get back in the fight in January. McBride says LMA is a strong supporter of humane treatment and handling of animals and livestock. But the efforts to ban horse slaughter - he says - simply go beyond humane treatment of animals - mandating government intervention in the lives and livelihoods of a major U.S. ag sector. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.