By VIVIAN GRANT
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN THE 110th CONGRESS OF THE U.S.*
Legislation to Ban Horse Slaughter/Export for Slaughter
H.R. 503/S. 311
Do you know where the presidential candidates currently serving in Congress stand on horse slaughter?
DEMOCRATS
| Candidate | Rank | State | Co-Sponsor |
| Joe Biden | Senator | Delaware | Yes |
| Hillary Clinton | Senator | New York | Yes |
| Chris Dodd | Senator | Connecticut | Yes |
| Dennis Kucinich | Representative | Ohio | Yes |
| Barak Obama | Senator | Illinois | No |
REPUBLICANS
| Candidate | Rank | State | Co-Sponsor |
| Ron Paul | Representative | Texas | No |
| McCain | Senator | Arizona | Yes |
PAST ACTIONS
Of note among the current crop of candidates, is dark horse and U.S. Representative Ron Paul (R-TX). Texans have lobbied long and hard, in great numbers, in favor of ending horse slaughter, and been virtually ignored by their federal legislators in Washington.
In 2006 during the 109th Congress, Paul broke ranks with a few fellow Texans and voted for the budget bill amendment to stop funding for inspectors at horse slaughter plants, an effort to shut the abbatoirs down. But, and this is a bit “but,” when it came time to vote on the House version of what is commonly referred to as the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (it’s actually an amendment to the Horse Protection Act banning slaughter and export for slaughter), H.R. 503, Paul voted against it. Paul did not co-sponsor H.R. 503 in the 109th Congress, nor has he to date in the current, or 110th.
U. S. Representative Dennis Kucinich has co-sponsored and voted yes for every piece of horse friendly legislation introduced since being elected to the House.
Senators Biden, Clinton, Dodd and McCain have remained committed in support of federal legislation banning horse slaughter.
*Source for Presidential Candidates: Washington Post
For more information, please see www.vote-smart.org
OTHER NEWS
Willie Nelson and Bo Derek take to the Hill this Tuesday and Wednesday in support of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.
Although the last of the horse slaughter plants were closed earlier this year in Texas, then in Illinois, Nelson in an open letter to his fans states:
“However, the cruel business of slaughter continues by crowding horses in trailers for over 700 miles to Mexico and Canada, without food or water. These plants in Mexico are killing the horses savagely, by multiple stabbings until they drop to their knees in order to slit their throats, causing them to suffer slow painful deaths.
“Once again, it’s time to flood the phone lines and emails of our legislatures. Ask them to co-sponsor and demand a vote on the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act.”
Quote Source: TMZ.com
Join Willie, Bo and Co. Click here to find your Legislators in Washington and give them a call today! (especially Nov. 13th and 14th please).
Tuesday's Horse 