Missouri Senate passes bill easing Proposition B restrictions on dog breeders

The Missouri Senate removed a year's worth of efforts to restrict Missouri dog
breeders by passing a bill that dilutes most Proposition B restrictions.

The bill, passed with a vote of 20-14, removes the measure's limitation on 50 dogs
in breeding facilities and also dissolves requirements for bigger cage sizes.

Missourians voted 52 percent in favor of Proposition B in November general election.

Since then, some lawmakers have argued voters were unaware that the measures passed
in Prop. B were harming good breeders and a legitimate industry in the state.

Humane Society spokeswoman Barb Schmitz said this isn't true.

"The issue was thoroughly debated for a year," Schmitz said. "Voters knew what they
were doing. And if lawmakers are really intent on overturning the will of the
people, then I find that extremely disappointing."

Sen. John Lamping, R-St. Louis County, warned there is a problem with easing the
restrictions Missourians voted to pass with Proposition B.

"There's a risk to legislating this way, by proposition," he said. "I think I'm
quite confident that my district read the bill, did their best to understand the
bill and voted their will. I think this is a very dangerous way to legislate."

Sen. Maria Chappell-Nadal, D-St. Louis County, voted against changing the law, but
she acknowledged supporters' arguments about voter confusion in November.

"Proposition B does not deal with pounds, yet it is messaged to our constituents
that Proposition B is saving puppies," she said.

The bill now will be sent to the House for debate. If it passes, it will be sent to
the governor to sign into law.

Cut to the Chase -- Addicted to Chewing and Swallowing

ADDICTED TO CHEWING AND SWALLOWING
By Dan Cassidy

Mike Rowe, the iconic pitchman for Ford Motor Company and host of the television show Dirty Jobs says he is "addicted to chewing and swallowing." So are more than 300 million other Americans. Unfortunately, it is no longer enough for our nation's farmers and ranchers to produce food, fiber and fuel. Today, those who produce must talk directly with those who consume.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates receives accolades for using his wealth to rid the world of maladies such as malaria. U.S. farmers are no less impressive; the combination of hard work and new technologies continue to prime the pump of prosperity. Today, each U.S. farmer produces enough food and fiber for 155 people. Yet, the wagons are circled and American agriculture is under fire. A lethal army of do-gooders, ranging from animal rights extremists to greenhouse gas alarmists, has gone Hollywood by using celebrities and slick solicitations to take their messages to the masses. Their strategy is working.

Farmers and ranchers are trustworthy, hard-working, and notoriously independent. Agriculture organizations work hard to forge common ground and speak with a unified voice, but farmers' historical bond with elected officials and consumers is falling victim to the misinformation and high-dollar rhetoric of people like Al Gore and Sheryl Crow.

Agriculture has no choice but to put skin in the game. Fact will still trump fiction, but we have to ante up. Consider hog, dairy, beef cattle, soybean, corn and other farmers already contribute millions of dollars to research and promotion efforts through checkoffs, and yet consumers still fall prey to modern snake oil salesmen. We cannot be afraid to raise the food security stakes. Farmers have to become evangelical about their industry and explain why they take great pride in producing food for our nation's families.

Bruce Vincent, a logger and motivational speaker from Montana argues every farmer's business plan should include at least one hour a week to advocate for their industry. We must be better prepared for the next battle; it takes money to share our story from Pierce City to St. Louis and everywhere in between. Last November, a 30-second primetime television commercial in St. Louis could cost up to $3,000.

More than $4 million was spent promoting Proposition B in Missouri, with at least half coming from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). HSUS is an east coast factory fundraising machine using television propaganda to finance its animal rights agenda. Campaign reports filed just before Election Day show 82 percent of the funding in support of Proposition B came from out-of-state organizations and individuals. Nearly 75 percent of that amount came from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and California.

Proposition B passed by less than 2 percent and failed in 103 of Missouri's 114 counties. The measure passed by large margins in the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas. Not surprisingly, this was ground zero for the Proposition B media blitz. Ultimately, opponents were outspent about 9 to 1 by supporters.

Today, we are dealing with well-funded adversaries who are more comfortable talking on the Oprah show than the coffee shop. In this new environment, farmers and ranchers must not only speak with a unified voice and take time to educate others, but have the money necessary to share their message with everyone else addicted to chewing and swallowing.

(Dan Cassidy, of Fulton, Mo., is chief administrative officer of
Missouri Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization.)

Guess what? The process worked.

One of the House leaders has ties to one of the Humane Society's so-called "dirty dozen," one of the kennels that was in extremely bad shape. But the article notes that the problems in the kennels have mostly been solved, thanks to the State Department of Agriculture. Guess what? The process worked. No need for Prop. B.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/article_ef57fb04-4069-11e0-8250-00127992bc8b.html

Opinion: Mistreating Animals and Unreasonable Laws Are Both Wrong

by the Missouri Farm Bureau

“Mistreating and abusing animals is wrong, but so are unreasonable laws that put reputable animal caregivers out of business,” said Blake Hurst, president of Missouri Farm Bureau, testifying today before the Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee in support of legislation to make changes to Proposition B approved by Missouri voters last November.

Narrowly passing with 51.6% of the vote, Proposition B places new restrictions on dog breeders in addition to current state law and regulations. According to state inspectors with the Missouri Department of Agriculture, not one of the more than 1,400 licensed breeding facilities in Missouri meet the standards set by Proposition B.

“Missouri law already requires humane care for dogs at licensed breeding facilities. People who disregard the current law will disregard new laws and regulations as well, and Proposition B does absolutely nothing to address that,” said Hurst. “To make matters worse, Proposition B places costly and unnecessary new requirements on reputable dog breeders who are the kind of businesses providing pets to consumers that we should be supporting.”

The proponents of Proposition B spent well over $4 million on the campaign, and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) alone contributed more than $2 million. Campaign reports show that over 80% of the funding came from out-of-state organizations and individuals. Proposition B was placed on the ballot by an initiative petition funded primarily by HSUS who paid signature gatherers.

“When out-of-state animal activists decide they know what’s best for Missouri; buy their way onto the Missouri ballot; target Missouri voters with a deceptive campaign financed by the Washington, D.C.-based HSUS and other East and West Coast activists who do not live here, pay taxes here and vote here; and put reputable, hard-working Missouri citizens out of business, then legislative action is not only justified, it’s necessary,” said Hurst.

Several bills are pending in the Missouri Senate and House of Representatives to make changes to the statutory language from Proposition B. The legislation has bi-partisan support among legislators and has the support of several major agricultural and other state organizations.