AP Wire: Groups sue to stop horse slaughters

[PhilipShore]

AP Wire
Groups sue to stop horse slaughters
Feb. 14, 2006

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/politics/13869929.htm

WASHINGTON - A coalition of animal rights groups and people who live near the nation's three horse slaughter plants sued Tuesday to prevent the Agriculture Department from providing horse meat inspections for a fee.

The groups alleged that USDA's plans to provide the inspections next month violates a law passed as part of the 2006 agriculture spending bill signed by President Bush.

In that legislation, Congress cut funding for salaries and expenses of horse meat inspectors.

The plants have contended the law will cost jobs and economic benefits. The plants slaughter horses for the meat, which is consumed in Europe and Asia and used in some zoos.

[sasha031]

1. I hope they get the right judge

this is such an outrage, it is mind boggling how cruel and inhumane matter is.

horses are our national heritage, I have signed so many petitions against this, it breaks my heart:cry:

[sinkingfeeling]

2. And since when does the USDA get to violate the laws passed by

Congress. This was a big deal. I signed numerous petitions and wrote to all my reps. to get this thing into the law. It's just like Chimpy: every freaking Republican and Administration nutcase department think they're above the law. Where's all that 'Rule of Law' shouting that we heard about Clinton?

[sasha031]

3. where is the librul media

how would americans react if they knew that wild horses were going to end up on a Frenchman's plate...the french bashing crowd would surely react...

mind you I love the french, i don't understand why they would eat horse meant. To my knowledge killing horses was banned in Europe.

right now we can only hope the judge is a compassionate person, not one of the soulless minions of the * adm.

[Debau2005]

5. Not necessarily wild horses

Horse theft of young, muscular, healthy horses is above the national rate in areas nearest the slaughter houses. Horse owners have to be careful who they sell to these days, you never know where they end up, and there are a lot of stories of family pets that had to be sold that ended up at a slaughter facility.

http://www.netposse.com/slaughter/slaughterinfo.htm

I am so tired of this issue coming up! The law was passed and now the USDA wants to make end runs around it!

[jilln]

7. right. some come from horse racing, including champions...

Just like dog racing, when the animal stops winning and making the owner's living for him, they send them to be killed and eaten.

These champions made MILLIONS of dollars and thier "humans" - and it makes me sick to call them that with this kind of behavior - couldn't even use the winnings to take care of them:

http://www.shilohlasvegas.com/page.php?code=ferdinand

[jilln]

4. They are still looking for more plaintiffs

If you know anyone who lives near the slaughterhouse in Fort Worth or can forward the below to email lists, please help. They need people who have reduced property value, odor, etc. from the slaughterhouse:

HUMANE GROUPS FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST USDA ACTION

WASHINGTON, DC (Feb. 14, 2006) — Six national humane groups representing over 9.5 million members and several individuals filed a complaint in federal court today against Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator Barbara Masters, challenging the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to create a “fee-for-service” inspection system that facilitates the continued transport and slaughter of tens of thousands of American horses for human consumption abroad each year. 

This action by the USDA is in direct contravention of an amendment to the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that prohibits tax dollars from being used to fund the federally mandated inspection of horses for slaughter (beginning March 10, 2006), the Animal Welfare Institute, Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL), Doris Day Animal League, The Humane Society of the United States, the Fund for Animals, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Humane Association, and the individual co-plaintiffs charge.

"There is a growing frustration among the public and members of Congress with this blatant disregard for a law overwhelmingly passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President," said Chris Heyde, SAPL deputy legislative director.  "The US Congress clearly responded to the American publics’ demand for an end to slaughter and the USDA is choosing to violate this act to shelter three foreign owned slaughterhouses."

The USDA action not only flouts Congressional intent in enacting the amendment, but violates other federal legal mandates and abrogates the public’s right to comment on such important matters by making the decision with no advance public notice and comment, the groups say.

“The executive branch is not in the position to interpret law when the intent of Congress is clear.  Proponents and opponents of the Amendment were united in their statements that this measure was and is intended to end the slaughter of America’s horses for a fiscal year beginning March 10, 2006,” said Heyde.

Meanwhile, Members of Congress have introduced the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503 and S. 1915) in both chambers in an attempt to achieve a permanent ban on the practice of horse slaughter for human consumption.

The organizations and individuals bringing this suit on behalf of their members and constituents are represented by Meyer, Glitzenstein and Crystal, a public interest law firm in Washington, D.C.

CONTACT:

Chris Heyde, SAPL deputy legislative director: [phone]

[sasha031]

6. how about we all send this to Lou Dobbs,

we all know how he hates foreigners, maybe this could gain legs....

[_dynamicdems]

8. Letter from the Society for Animal Protective Legislation

HUMANE GROUPS FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST USDA ACTION

WASHINGTON, DC (Feb. 14, 2006) — Six national humane groups representing over 9.5 million members and several individuals filed a complaint in federal court today against Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and Food Safety and Inspection Service Administrator Barbara Masters, challenging the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to create a “fee-for-service” inspection system that facilitates the continued transport and slaughter of tens of thousands of American horses for human consumption abroad each year.

This action by the USDA is in direct contravention of an amendment to the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill that prohibits tax dollars from being used to fund the federally mandated inspection of horses for slaughter (beginning March 10, 2006), the Animal Welfare Institute, Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL), Doris Day Animal League, The Humane Society of the United States, the Fund for Animals, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Humane Association, and the individual co-plaintiffs charge.

"There is a growing frustration among the public and members of Congress with this blatant disregard for a law overwhelmingly passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President," said Chris Heyde, SAPL deputy legislative director. "The US Congress clearly responded to the American publics’ demand for an end to slaughter and the USDA is choosing to violate this act to shelter three foreign owned slaughterhouses."

The USDA action not only flouts Congressional intent in enacting the amendment, but violates other federal legal mandates and abrogates the public’s right to comment on such important matters by making the decision with no advance public notice and comment, the groups say.

“The executive branch is not in the position to interpret law when the intent of Congress is clear. Proponents and opponents of the Amendment were united in their statements that this measure was and is intended to end the slaughter of America’s horses for a fiscal year beginning March 10, 2006,” said Heyde.

Meanwhile, Members of Congress have introduced the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503 and S. 1915) in both chambers in an attempt to achieve a permanent ban on the practice of horse slaughter for human consumption.

The organizations and individuals bringing this suit on behalf of their members and constituents are represented by Meyer, Glitzenstein and Crystal, a public interest law firm in Washington, D.C.

CONTACT:

Chris Heyde, SAPL deputy legislative director: [phone]