Loading ...ASPCA Urges No on Ohio Issue 2
I posted on this earlier this week, but now it is even more evident that Issue 2 is a no-go in Ohio.
ASPCA President Ed Sayres released this statement today:
“The ASPCA opposes Issue 2 in Ohio. Full public debate in which all the stakeholders were heard on issues that directly impact the lives of the public and the well being of farm animals simply did not occur. By placing this measure as a Constitutional amendment, the opportunity to revise Board membership or the role and function of this board would be impossible without another Constitutional amendment.
It is also unclear how this Board will impact the work of county humane societies in enforcing anti-cruelty statutes, which encompass the well being of livestock and poultry as well as companion animals.
Furthermore, the composition of this Standards Board is of grave concern. There is no one representing animal behavior to lend expertise in that important area, and the measure only provides for one Board member out of thirteen from the humane community.”
As a Farm Bureau member I worked on our local committee to find ways to fight and defeat HSUS and PETA at their own game.
My problem with this constitutional amendment is the excessive power it places in the hands of a 13 member group of non-elected bureaucrats.
This issue should not have been a constitutional amendment. The same objective to thwart PETA and HSUS could have been accomplished by including the key words “agricultural best management practices for such care and well-being” in section 900 of the Ohio Revised Code.
The big question for me is, “What did it take to twist the arms of all the members of both the House and Senate to make them take such a draconian measure?” If we change the Constitution every time the wind blows from the wrong direction, what value remains in it? What next? Change the US Constitution to remove free speech and religious freedom?
VOTE NO on ISSUE 2
I don’t know a whole lot about this issue, but it doesn’t look good to me.
I am so glad you are keeping ohioans abreast of this issue, it is SO important and its vital that is DOES NOT pass. Thanks for the great coverage.
As an Ohioan myself, I too am glad that you are posting about this even though it only affects a small portion of your readership. More info for people who want to know can be found here:
http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/ballot_initiatives/ohio_issue_2.html
http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/issue-2-ohio-livestock-care-standards-boardllot_initiatives/ohio_issue_2.html
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/09/06/copy/LIVESTOCK_ISSUE.ART_ART_09-06-09_A1_UUEVV9K.html?sid=101
BOTTOM LINE: This issue is BAD BAD BAD news for animal welfare in Ohio, which is already SERIOUSLY lacking in aw statutes and protections. We are WAY behind other states progress in so many different arenas its sad and depressing that our reps dont give a damn about animals in this state.