From: Clarice Cato Goodyear 
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 2:49 PM
Subject: Presidential Candidates and Animal Welfare

Dear Friend,

            I know there are numerous positions and perspectives that we all take into consideration when deciding who to vote for in presidential elections. I do not intend to address all the “people” issues that are front and center in our minds and hearts.

            I do intend to address the issue of animal welfare.

            To compile my comparison, I have used the Humane Score Card of the Humane Society of the United States. If you would like to examine this subject in greater detail, simply go to the HSUS website Humane Score Card section.

            Hillary Clinton is the stand-out on animal welfare.

            Barack Obama comes in a close second on animal welfare.

            John McCain is not just third; his record on animal welfare reveals almost a total indifference.

            To summarize:

            In the 108^th Congress (January 2003 through December 2004): Hillary Clinton’s score is 100 and John McCain’s score is 20. (Of course, Barack Obama was not a US Senator at the time. I do have good input on Obama’s voting record as an Illinois State Senator.)

            In the 109^th Congress (January 2005 through December 2006): Hillary Clinton’s score is 100+, Barack Obama’s score is 60, and John McCain’s score is 40.

            In the Mid-term Report on the 110^th Congress (January 2007-December 2007): Hillary Clinton’s score is 75, Barack Obama’s score is 75, and John McCain’s score is 25.

            Specifics of the 108^th Congress re Hillary Clinton and John McCain, and an assessment of Barack Obama’s state voting record:

Hillary Clinton was a Co-Sponsor of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act—providing felony-level penalties of up to three years’ jail time for interstate or foreign transport of animals for fighting purposes and outlawing the movement of cockfighting weapons across state or national borders. John McCain was not.

Hillary Clinton was a Co-Sponsor of the Downed Animal Protection Act—to prohibit USDA certification of meat from livestock too sick or injured to walk unassisted, making permanent the USDA’s administrative ban on downed cattle in human food and expanding it to cover other species, such as downed pigs and sheep, who also pose heightened public health risks and suffer when dragged, bulldozed, or otherwise hauled to slaughter. John McCain was not.

Hillary Clinton signed the Enforcement Funding Letter to the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee seeking funds for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and federal animal fighting laws. John McCain did not.

Hillary Clinton was a prime sponsor of pro-animal legislation during the 108^th Congressional session. John McCain was not.

Hillary Clinton and John McCain both voted to prevent consideration of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This was John McCain’s only favorable position on an animal welfare issue during the 108^th Congressional session.

Neither Hillary Clinton nor John McCain voted in favor of the resolution urging the Canadian government to end its commercial seal hunt.

            During Barack Obama’s eight years as a state senator in Illinois he voted in favor of at least twelve animal protection laws. These included state legislation 1) to allow creation of pet trusts to provide for long-term care of companion animals, 2) to upgrade penalties for cruelty to animals, 3) to require psychological counseling for people who abuse animals, 4) to require veterinarians to report suspected acts of cruelty and animal fighting, 5) to ban slaughter of horses for human consumption—significant because Illinois was one of only two states (with Texas) where horse slaughter plants operated, 6) to create additional restrictions to make it more difficult for puppy mills to operate.

            Specifics of the 109^th Congress re Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain:

Hillary Clinton was a Co-Sponsor of the Downed Animal Protection Act. Barack Obama was not. John McCain was not.

Hillary Clinton was a prime sponsor of pro-animal legislation during the 109^th Congressional session. Barack Obama was not. John McCain was not.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were Co-Sponsors of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act. John McCain was not.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama signed the Enforcement Funding Letter. John McCain did not.

Hillary Clinton and John McCain were Co-Sponsors of the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act—to bar transport (including export), possession, purchase or sale of horses to be slaughtered for human consumption. Barack Obama was not.

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain voted in favor of the Horse Slaughter Amendment--to stop horse slaughter by prohibiting use of tax dollars to fund USDA inspection and approval of meat at horse slaughter houses and approval of horses to be exported for slaughter. The two horse slaughter legislative measures were the only animal welfare legislation supported by John McCain.

            Specifics of the Mid-term 110^th Congress re Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain:

Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain were Co-Sponsors of the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. This horse slaughter legislation is the only animal welfare measure supported by John McCain.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama were Co-Sponsors of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act. John McCain was not.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama signed the Enforcement Funding Letter to the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee seeking funds for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and federal animal fighting laws, as well as for new programs to address the needs of animals in disasters and to ease a shortage of veterinarians in rural and inner city areas and public health practice through student loan forgiveness. John McCain did not.

Neither Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, nor John McCain were Co-Sponsors of the Pet Safety and Protection Act—to prohibit use of research of dogs and cats obtained from Class B dealers through random source, which can include pets acquired through theft, and in response to “free to good home” ads.

Neither Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama nor John McCain have been a prime sponsor of pro-animal legislation so far during the 110^th Congressional session.

I hope this information is useful to you.

Warmly, Clarice

*************************************************

From Humane Society Legislative Fund:

http://hslf.typepad.com/political_animal/2008/01/elephants.html

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

The Presidential Files: Evaluating the Elephants

With the Iowa caucuses tomorrow, and the New Hampshire primaries next week, I want to provide an overview of the Republican presidential candidates. I’ve already commented on Mike Huckabee’s terrible approach to animal cruelty issues and pandering to the sport hunting lobby, and Ron Paul’s philosophical opposition to even the most modest animal welfare policies in Congress. Here’s what we know about the other presidential hopefuls in the party of the elephants:

Rudy Giuliani: As mayor, Giuliani did not have as many opportunities to take a position on animal issues as those who served as governor or a member of Congress, but he did take some proactive measures in America's largest city.  In 2000, he proposed and signed a bill to promote the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats and open an animal shelter in each borough in order to help curb New York's pet overpopulation.  He is the first Republican candidate to release a public statement on animal issues, which is reproduced here in its entirety: "Animals play an important part in the lives of many Americans.  We should all work to reduce animal suffering by advocating for sensible public policies, investigating animal cruelty and strongly enforcing the laws that are already on the books. I will continue to support efforts to educate the public about animal issues, and work with corporations to develop animal-friendly policies."

Duncan Hunter: In the U.S. House of Representatives, Hunter’s record has been relatively poor but he’s been a supporter on some issues. He has earned scores ranging from zero to 42 percent on the Humane Scorecard over the years, having backed a few animal protection proposals, including those to stop animal fighting, horse slaughter, and the processing of “downer” livestock. He has been leading the fight to continue the trophy hunting of deer and elk on Santa Rosa Island, in a controversial battle over whether the animals will be exterminated from the island or allowed to remain in a canned hunt—either way a bad outcome for the animals.

John McCain: In the U.S. Senate, McCain has been a strong supporter of numerous animal welfare issues, earning scores of up to 75 percent on the Humane Scorecard. He has voted for and co -sponsored legislation to stop horse slaughter, and voted to eliminate a $2 million subsidy for the mink industry. He has co-sponsored bills to stop the interstate shipment of birds for cockfighting and to stop the poaching of bears by ending the trade in their gall bladders and other viscera. He took an anti-animal position by supporting an amendment to the California Desert Protection Act which would have allowed sport hunting in the Mojave National Park. Senator McCain has been a leader in the effort to stop global warming, and he opposes drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to many wildlife species.

Mitt Romney: Romney attracted the ire of animal advocates when they learned that during a 1983 vacation, he put the family’s Irish setter, Seamus, in a carrier and strapped him to the roof rack of the station wagon. When the terrified dog urinated and defecated during the twelve-hour drive, Romney pulled over, hosed down the dog, and continued the voyage from Boston to Ontario. As chief executive of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Romney also came under fire from animal protection groups for allowing a rodeo exhibition that included calf roping. His term as governor didn't exactly inspire confidence in his judgment on animal issues, either.  He appointed a raft of animal-unfriendly people to the state Fisheries and Wildlife Board.  He did, however, leave the governor's mansion on a high note by signing a bill passed in 2006 to strengthen the Massachusetts animal fighting law and prevent a convicted animal abuser from getting the animal back. 

Fred Thompson: Thompson rarely supported animal protection issues in the U.S. Senate, but his highest score was 50 percent on the Humane Scorecard. On the positive side, he voted to eliminate a $2 million subsidy for the mink industry. On the negative side, he voted to continue spending tax dollars to allow the use of two particularly inhumane traps—steel-jawed leghold traps and wire neck snares—for commercial and recreational trapping on National Wildlife Refuges. And he opposed an amendment to protect dolphins from drowning in tuna fishing nets.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

The Presidential Files: Discussing the Donkeys

In advance of the Iowa caucuses—the first official event of the 2008 election season—I've been introducing you to the candidates from both sides of the political spectrum. Yesterday I provided a round-up of where the Republican presidential candidates stand on animal issues, and today it’s time to summarize the Democrats.  It’s a tougher task, because there are not as many clear distinctions.  All of the Democratic contenders have been friends of animal welfare, and have received high marks year after year on the Humane Scorecard.  I’ve attempted to highlight some of the things that stand out. 

Joe Biden: In the current session of Congress, Sen. Biden is a co-sponsor of  measures to stop horse slaughter, upgrade the penalties for animal fighting, ban the possession of fighting dogs and attendance at a dogfight, and call on Canada to stop its annual massacre of baby harp seals.  He has consistently voted for animal protection during his career, and he led the fight with Sen. Barbara Boxer to ban the netting of dolphins by commercial tuna fishermen.  He was the lead author of a bill in the 107th Congress to prohibit trophy hunting of captive exotic mammals in fenced enclosures, and he successfully passed the bill through the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Hillary Rodham Clinton: In the current session of Congress, Sen. Clinton is a co-sponsor of legislation dealing with horse slaughter and animal fighting, and she previously co-sponsored legislation to stop the processing of “downer” livestock and to crack down on abusive puppy mills where dogs are treated like production machines  She led efforts in the 108th and 109th Congresses to stop the overuse of antibiotics in farm animals, which allow them to be crammed in overcrowded, stressful, unsanitary conditions on factory farms.  She had a perfect 100 percent score on the Humane Scorecard in the 108th and 109th Congresses.

Chris Dodd: In the current session of Congress, Sen. Dodd is a co-sponsor of measures to stop Class B dealers from trafficking in random-source pets for research, end horse slaughter, upgrade the penalties for animal fighting, and call on Canada to stop its annual massacre of baby harp seals. He has consistently voted for animal protection during his career, and can always be counted on by animal advocates.

John Edwards: A leader on the issue of factory farming, Sen. Edwards has called for a moratorium on the construction or expansion of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).  His campaign has released a positive statement on animal welfare, and you can read more about his record in my longer entry, “John Edwards on Animals and Rural America.”

Dennis Kucinich: An ethical vegetarian, Rep. Kucinich has been one of the true leaders on animal protection issues in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is currently a co-sponsor of 14 animal protection measures in the 110th Congress, one of the highest numbers among all 435 members.  He led the effort in 2001 and 2002 to secure more funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act at puppy mills, research laboratories, zoos, circuses, and other facilities.  When animal issues are considered on the House floor, Rep. Kucinich can often be found speaking in favor of the animal protection position.  In November, he hosted an online forum to discuss animal issues.

Barack Obama: In the current session of Congress, Sen. Obama is a co-sponsor of measures to stop horse slaughter, upgrade the penalties for animal fighting, and crack down on dogfighting.  He has had a strong record for animals in both the Illinois State Senate and the U.S. Senate. Read more about his responses to the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s questionnaire in my longer entry, “Barack Obama and the Dog-acity of Hope.”

Bill Richardson: New Mexico banned cockfighting in 2007 thanks to Gov. Richardson’s leadership, and the chief executive signed numerous animal protection bills into law and issued a comprehensive animal welfare package for the state.  Read more in my longer entry, “Bill Richardson’s Animal Magnetism in the Land of Enchantment.”

** written by Michael Markarian **