Sen. Brent Steele Named Indiana Legislative Leader 2013

The Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance (SAOVA) – a nationwide nonpartisan organization of animal owners and sportsmen – named State Sen. Brent Steele (R-Bedford) Legislative Leader 2013. Steele, a Republican representing Senate District 44, was chosen for his efforts to protect the rights of Hoosier outdoorsman and animal owners.

“Indiana Beagler's and Sportsman's Alliance is proud of our affiliation with Indiana State Senator Brent Steele,” said Don LeCount, vice president of the Indiana Beagler’s and Sportman’s Alliance. “He has benchmarked his years of service by supporting and defending Indiana sportsmen and women. He stood strong when House Bill 1468 was introduced years ago to cripple our state’s commercial breeders. Steele has also introduced and worked hard for a constitutional amendment protecting hunting and fishing from the antis in our state.”

LeCount added that at every turn in Sen. Steele's tenure at the Statehouse, he has been a champion for sportsmen, agriculture and small business.

Susan Wolf, president of SAOVA, noted that Steele is an avid hunter and has clearly demonstrated his commitment to preserving and protecting the sporting heritage and traditions of Indiana sportsmen.

Wolf also noted that Steele understands that overzealous animal protection legislation not only will negatively impact responsible sportsmen, but animal owners and livestock producers as well.

“As a former hog farmer, lifetime hunter, outdoorsman and life member of the National Rifle Association and National Muzzleloader Association, ensuring and protecting the rights of Hoosier sportsmen and women and animal owners is a responsibility I take very seriously,” Steele said. “It gives me great honor to be recognized for the work we have done in Indiana to preserve these rights.”

Contact:
Susan Wolf, President of Sportsmen’s and Animal Owner’s Voting Alliance
saova@earthlink.net

Brady Hagerty, Press Secretary for State Sen. Brent Steele
brady.hagerty@iga.in.gov
317-232-9425

Senator Andrew Brock Named North Carolina Legislator of the Year 2013

The Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance, a nationwide nonpartisan organization of animal owners and sportsmen, named Senator Andrew Brock Legislator of the Year 2013.  Brock, a Republican representing Senate District 34 which includes parts of Davie, Iredell, and Rowan Counties serves as co-chair of the Senate Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources and Appropriations on Natural and Economic Resources Committees; and Member of Appropriations and Base Budget, Ways and Means, and Senate Rules Committees.

Susan Wolf, President of SAOVA, noted that Senator Brock has deep respect for the agriculture, agribusiness, and hunting interests that drive our state’s economy.  All animal related sectors are faced with complex challenges today and demands for increased regulation. Brock understands that any regulatory changes, whether for livestock, pets, or hunting must always be based on sound science, not emotion or rhetoric.

Wolf continued, Senator Brock has clearly demonstrated his willingness to work alongside animal owners, sportsmen, and livestock producers to safeguard our traditions and heritage.

Senator Brock thanked SAOVA for honoring him as Legislator of the Year.  Brock added, "I am honored to receive this award from the premier animal advocacy organization in the country.  I look forward to working with SAOVA in the future to continue to uphold the values we share."

Delegate Kelli Sobonya named West Virginia Legislator of the Year 2013

The Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance, a nationwide nonpartisan organization of animal owners and sportsmen, named Delegate Kelli Sobonya Legislator of the Year. Sobonya, a Republican representing the 18th District which includes Cabell County serves as Minority Chair of the House Industry & Labor Health and Human Resources committee and member of House Rules and Judiciary committees.

Susan Wolf, President of SAOVA, indicated that Sobonya has been a consistent advocate for animal owners and sportsmen.  Her unwavering commitment to safeguard our rights to hunt, fish, own, and breed animals clearly established her as a leader. 

Beth Thaxton of West Virginia Animal Owners Alliance presented the award on SAOVA’s behalf. Delegate Sobonya thanked SAOVA for recognizing her as Legislator of the Year. Sobonya continued, “As West Virginians, our family loves the outdoors and are avid hunters and fishermen. I am honored to be recognized by a national organization like SAOVA that shares an appreciation for both sportsmen and animal owners. Having served twelve years in the West Virginia House of Delegates representing the Mountain State, I am a strong defender of the liberty and values that made America a great nation.”


SAOVA is a nonpartisan volunteer group working to protect U.S. citizens from the legislative and political threats of radical animal rightists. SAOVA's members hunt, fish and own livestock, dogs, cats and other pets. Visit our website at http://saova.org to review this program's goals and methodology.

Sportsmen Endorse Taylor Griffin for Congress

The Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance (SAOVA) today endorsed Taylor Griffin for North Carolina congressional district 3. “Taylor Griffin is a candidate who could make a substantial difference in Washington for hunting sportsmen and animal owners,” said SAOVA Director Susan Wolf. “An avid hunter, Griffin will be a strong voice effectively advocating for the rights, livelihoods, and traditions of animal owners and sportsmen. North Carolina residents will be well represented by Taylor Griffin.”

Legislation Briefs and Updates April 14, 2014

SAOVA Friends,

Although it may seem early to be talking about the November 2014 midterm election, it is only seven months away.  There are 44 House open seats, 8 Senate open seats, and 11 open seats for Governor with primaries already underway.  If you would like to join SAOVA's core of hardworking volunteers helping to contact and evaluate candidates and analyze voting records, please send me an email. Since 2002, SAOVA's volunteers have interviewed politicians running for election to Congress for the first time. Each election cycle, we also review the voting records of incumbents standing for reelection. Our goal is to determine candidates' positions on threats to our sport, avocations and livelihoods by animal rightists.

Thanks for reading.  Cross posting is encouraged.

Susan Wolf
Sportsmen's & Animal Owners' Voting Alliance
Working to Identify and Elect Supportive Legislators

BLUM v. HOLDER DECISION
Chief Judge Sandra Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held that five animal rights activists were not entitled to declaratory and injunctive relief.  Although they have never been prosecuted or threatened with prosecution under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), which criminalizes force, violence, and threats involving animal enterprises, the activists sued to obtain declaratory and injunctive relief that the statute is unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

The plaintiffs are five longtime animal rights activists who claim their advocacy work has been “chilled” due to fear of being prosecuted as a terrorist under the AETA.  Among the plaintiffs are Sarahjane Blum and Ryan Shapiro, co-founders of GourmetCruelty.com which protests primarily against the foie gras industry;  and Lauren Gazzola and J Johnson who are organizers and activists for Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC).  The suit was originally filed December 15, 2011. The Government moved to dismiss the case in 2012 and this was granted in 2013. First Circuit Court of Appeals has now affirmed the District Court's dismissal.

In her summary, Chief Judge Lynch stated, "[plaintiffs] in the present case present no concrete evidence to substantiate their fears, but instead rest on mere conjecture about possible governmental actions. In particular, plaintiffs' fear of prosecution under AETA is based on speculation that the Government will enforce the Act pursuant to interpretations it has never adopted and now explicitly rejects. Such unsubstantiated and speculative fear is not a basis for standing under Article III.   http://tinyurl.com/lo8vnb6

HR 4157 FARMER IDENTITY PROTECTION ACT
Introduced by Rep. Rick Crawford (R, AR) 3/6/14.
An ongoing suit filed by the National Pork Board and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) against the Environmental Protection Agency involves the question of whether the EPA may release individual farm information to environmental groups making FOIA requests. Information released by EPA last year contained tens of thousands of lines in spreadsheets often including names, home phone numbers, home emails, home addresses, and other personal information of more than 80,000 farmers in 29 states.  According to AFBF reports, EPA stood firm in its position that it had no legal obligation under FOIA to keep most of the information private.

HR 4157 prohibits the EPA, or any EPA contractor, from disclosing the information of any owner, operator, or employee of a livestock operation provided to EPA by a livestock producer or a state agency in accordance with the Clean Water Act or any other law, including: names; telephone numbers; email addresses; physical addresses; GPS coordinates; or other information regarding the location of the owner, operator, livestock, or employee.  The bill prescribes criteria for such a disclosure, however, in a statistical or aggregate form without specifically identifying information.

NOVARTIS WINS COURT ORDER BLOCKING U.K. AR PROTESTS
Novartis AG (NOVN) won a court order restricting animal-rights demonstrations at its U.K. facilities or against any of its employees after lawyers for the drugmaker said they feared it may be targeted. A unit of the drugmaker, which already has an injunction against members of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, a U.K. activist group, won the extension today of restrictions to cover anyone protesting animal research. The order bars harassment or intimidation of Novartis employees, including abusive or threatening posts on websites or social media. The order also restricts demonstrations to six people or fewer, in designated protest zones, with no amplified sounds, and forbids costumes, face-coverings or “blood-splattered costumes.” Anyone breaching the injunction can be arrested.  Full story at Bloomberg Business Week http://tinyurl.com/o6lcy5n

HSUS PRESENTS FIRST HUMANE GOVERNOR AWARD
As part of the HSUS diamond anniversary celebration, Whole Foods co-CEO Walter Robb and HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle gave the first-ever Humane Governor award to California’s Jerry Brown.  During the first three years of his current term Gov. Brown has signed 24 animal welfare bills.  Pacelle wrote, “Brown has helped cement California’s place as the top humane state, signing bills to ban the shark fin trade, halt the hounding of bears and bobcats, phase out the use of lead ammunition in hunting, and create pathways for non-lethal approaches to human conflicts with mountain lions. In his remarks to the audience, Gov. Brown spoke about the web of life and caring for all of nature, making it clear that this was a big part of his motivation in signing the bills.”  Source: A Humane Nation

HUMANE SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE FUND 2014 CONTRIBUTIONS
According to FEC reports last month, HSLF has distributed $127,000 to members of Congress.   House members receiving the highest donations were Jeff Denham (R-CA) $5,000; followed by Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA) $4,000; Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) $3,500; Julia Brownley (D-CA) $3,000; Jim Gerlach (R-PA) $3,000; Peter Roskam (R-IL) $3,000; Kurt Schrader (D-OR) $3,000.  Total donations to the House were divided $59,500 to Democrats and $32,000 to Republicans.   Top recipients in the Senate were Mary Landrieu (D-LA) at $6,000; Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) at $3,000; followed by Susan Collins (R-ME) $3,000; Jack Reed (D-RI) $3,000; Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) $2,500; Bruce Baley (D-IA) $2,000; Thad Cochran (R-MS) $2,000. Total donations to Senate members were divided $24,500 to Democrats and $11,000 Republicans.

Senator Joel Anderson Named California Legislator of the Year 2013

For Immediate Release
Date: April 12, 2014
Contact: Susan Wolf saova@earthlink.net

Senator Joel Anderson Named California Legislator of the Year 2013

The Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance, a nationwide nonpartisan organization of animal owners and sportsmen, today named Senator Joel Anderson “Legislator of the Year 2013."  Anderson represents California’s 36th District, serves as Vice-Chair of the Committees on Public Safety, Judiciary, Health, and Elections and Constitutional Amendments; and as a member of the Committee on Budget & Fiscal Review and the Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety & Judiciary.

Susan Wolf, President of SAOVA, revealed that what sets Anderson apart is his seven year track record of working across the aisle in the legislature to support California’s hunting and fishing heritage and the rights of animal owners.

Senator Anderson thanked SAOVA for recognizing him as Legislator of the Year.  “It is truly an honor to be named as the Sportsmen’s & Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance Legislator of the Year for 2013. The volunteers at SAOVA commit their time and treasury to advocate on behalf of their members and influence important policy in California and across the nation. It’s gratifying to be on the SAOVA team and to work alongside them to protect the rights of sportsmen and animal owners.”

SAOVA is a nonpartisan volunteer group working to protect U.S. citizens from the legislative and political threats of radical animal rightists. SAOVA's members hunt, fish and own livestock, dogs, cats and other pets. Visit our website at http://saova.org to review this program's goals and methodology.

Legislation and Ballot Initiative Updates March 14, 2014

SAOVA Friends,

APHIS held the first of what will be many sessions focused on implementing animal care provisions included in the recently passed Farm Bill.  The teleconference call was very short providing only a general overview and no time frames were addressed.  Dr. Chester Gipson noted that the 2014 Farm Bill gave APHIS broad de minimis authority, allowing them to exempt certain low risk dealers and exhibitors from the Animal Welfare Act license requirement.  The de minimis standard was part of a revision to the AWA definition of “dealer”.  The Farm Bill does not specify exactly who will be exempted, but the Farm Bill managers did indicate that APHIS should not exempt any entity just because it is a nonprofit, nor should they exempt facilities with a small number of dangerous animals.  Director Kevin Shea noted APHIS may publish additional proposed rules.  In reference to the Farm Bill managers asking for clarification of the definition of breeding female, Tracy Letterman with HSUS commented that no further clarifications to the APHIS retail pet store were needed or should be made.  Technical difficulties prevented other attendees from asking questions or making comments.  A transcription of the teleconference is posted on the SAOVA website http://www.saova.org/APHIS_rulemaking.html

Additional bills, updates, and votes when available, are tracked at the SAOVA website http://saova.org/news.html  Cross posting is encouraged.

Susan Wolf
Sportsmen's & Animal Owners' Voting Alliance
Working to Identify and Elect Supportive Legislators
saova@earthlink.net

ALDF WATCH
JFK University in Pleasant Hill, CA, was recently added to the list of law schools to offer courses in animal law.  This follows the launch of a Student ALDF chapter last year, the 189th in the country.  The animal law course will be taught by Joyce Tischler, the founder of ALDF.

ALDF filed a lawsuit this week against the city of Stockton, California and its animal shelter alleging ongoing abuse and violation of the California Public Records Act, which requires full disclosure of public records.  Along with individual California taxpayers, ALDF—represented by the law firm DLA Piper—is a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit, which was filed in California Superior Court in San Joaquin County.

ALDF and PETA filed a joint lawsuit against the Great Bull Run and the Lone Star Rodeo claiming these events violate California’s anti-cruelty law and Unfair Competition Law. The lawsuit aims to stop the Great Bull Run events currently scheduled in Northern and Southern California this summer.

ACTIVIST CLAIMS AGAINST UL RESEARCH CENTER DISMISSED
The National Institutes of Health and the USDA have dismissed an animal rights activist’s latest complaints about the treatment of some primates at the University of Louisiana New Iberia Research Center. In January, Michael Budkie of Stop Animal Exploitation Now called for a federal investigation of injuries to three African green monkeys and the deaths of two chimpanzees in 2012, and a baby rhesus monkey in 2013. A statement by the National Institutes of Health, released March 6, said the events Budkie cited are not current. “These events have been managed by the institutions as required by the PHS (Public Health Service) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, reviewed by the OLAW (NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare), and the cases are closed.”  A current inspection by USDA, prompted by the allegations, found Budkie’s claims had no merit. http://tinyurl.com/nge2tdr

MARYLAND
HB 0373 Animal Abuser Registry. Sponsor Delegate McConkey (R, 33A) would require the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) to establish and maintain a central and computerized registry.  The fiscal note estimated General fund expenditures for DPSCS would increase by $310,700 in FY 2015.  The Judiciary Committee submitted an Unfavorable Report after the hearing February 20.

MAINE
Proponents of a ballot initiative that would ask Mainers to support a ban on using bait, dogs and traps to hunt bears say they have gathered more than enough signatures to force the issue to a statewide referendum vote in November. Secretary of State Matt Dunlap confirmed this week that Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting submitted 78,528 petition signatures to his office by Monday’s deadline. The ballot initiative is sponsored by HSUS and aided by local activist groups, Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting, Maine Friends of Animals and others.  HSUS has already announced it is willing to spend up to $3 million on this initiative. Bear management must be left to state experts and not activists.  Stay informed at Save Maine’s Bear Hunt http://savemainesbearhunt.com/

MICHIGAN
HSUS and their front group, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, submitted signatures to the Michigan Secretary of State on March 13, 2014 to have their anti-wolf hunting measure placed on the November ballot. This is the second ballot initiative collected.  The first referendum suspended Public Act 520 (PA520) signed by Governor Rick Snyder in 2012 which established wolf hunting seasons in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  The new referendum seeks to overturn Public Act 21 of 2013 which supersedes PA520, establishes hunting seasons, and includes wolves as a game species.  It is estimated that 225,000 signatures were collected for the second referendum - 63,695 more signatures than required to have it placed on the ballot.

In answer to the HSUS tactics, The Citizens For Professional Wildlife Management proposed their own initiative; they must collect over 300,000 signatures by May in order to place it before the legislature. Among other measures, this would maintain the Natural Resources Commission's authority to designate game species using sound science once enacted into law. A citizen initiative law would not be subject to future HSUS ballot initiative challenges.

SOUTH DAKOTA
Dennis Daugaard signed SB46 making the state the 50th to set felony penalties for malicious acts of animal cruelty. Animal neglect and mistreatment is still a misdemeanor offense; however intentional cruelty is now a Class 6 felony, punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of $4,000. The bill exempts accepted livestock farming practices. The bill was the result of a joint effort between the state veterinarian, livestock groups, and other stakeholders.

TENNESSEE COMMERCIAL BREEDER ACT FAILS
SB 2468 introduced by Senators Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin), Steven Dickerson (R-Nashville), Bill Ketron (R-Murfreesboro) would continue the Commercial Breeder Act enacted in 2009 beyond the sunset date of June 30, 2014. According to the Fiscal Note, this program had a closing deficit of $965,750 on June 30, 2013. The bill FAILED in Senate Energy, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the March 12 hearing - Ayes 3, Nays 4, Not Voting 1, and is dead for this year.  Congratulations to Tennessee dog and cat breeders and the TN Federation of Dog Clubs for making your voice heard!