Agricultural News
John Collison with Oklahoma Farm Bureau Expects Governor to Sign Horse Processing Bill
Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:40:34 CDT
Legislation to allow for horse processing facilities in Oklahoma passed the Oklahoma Senate today following a lengthy battle between livestock producers and animal activists. HB 1999, sponsored by Sen. Eddie Fields and Rep. Skye McNiel, cleared the Senate by a 32 to 14 vote.
State Representative Skye McNeil declined to do any interviews with the media on Tuesday afternoon- but did issue a statement praising the Senate for passage of the measure. "I am very pleased with the support of my colleagues in the Oklahoma Senate. I have said repeatedly that when all the facts regarding this issue are on the table and our lawmakers are educated on this issue, they will find that this bill is a much more humane way to treat these animals, to manage the population and to control the neglect that we are seeing when irresponsible owners decide they can no longer take care of their horses. The fact is, 46 other states currently do not ban this practice. We have a broad, bipartisan level of support for this bill, especially among rural Oklahomans who see this problem up close. I hope Gov. Fallin will support this measure when it arrives at her desk."
John Collison is Vice President of Governmental Affairs with the Oklahoma Farm Bureau- he believes that the Governor will sign the measure saying "there's no reason that the Governor would have to balk at signing this" adding that since the measure passed the House and Senate easily on its way to her desk, there is a compelling reason for the Governor to sign HB1999. Farm Bureau, along with a coalition of other agriculture groups, has supported the legislation from the day it was introduced earlier in the session.
This past Friday, Farm Director Ron Hays talked with the Governor while she was attending the Oklahoma Youth Expo- and she signaled she would likely support the measure. Click here for the story that includes the audio with her describing her agreement with the intent of the bill.
Hays caught up with Collison at the State Capitol on Tuesday afternoon after Senate passage- and you can hear all of Collison's comments with Hays by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
In addition to Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the coalition that has been supportive of HB1999 includes the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association, American Farmers and Ranchers, Oklahoma Pork Council, Livestock Marketing Association, Oklahoma Wildlife Management Association, Whitetails of Oklahoma, and the Oklahoma Cotton Council.
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