The Humane Society Legislative Fund has posted its 2007 Humane Scorecard, which is published annually and provides the records of U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives on major animal welfare policies. The most recent report card covers the first session of the 110th Congress and provides an easy way for constituents to assess how their federal lawmakers acted on animal protection issues.
The report also helps chart the progress of public policy work on behalf of animals. According to HSUS, animal protection is more than ever being treated like the serious moral issue it is on Capitol Hill and lawmakers are debating policies that have enormous implications for animals. Some of the report's statistics are:
€ A bipartisan group of 31 senators and 100 representatives covering 38 states led as prime sponsors of pro-animal legislation and/or scored a perfect 100 - nearly one third of the Senate and one quarter of the House.
€ The average Senate score was a 43, with Senate Democrats averaging 60, and Senate Republicans averaging 24.
€ The average House score was a 53, with House Democrats averaging 71, and House Republicans averaging 33.
€ Seventeen senators scored 100 or 100+ (13 Democrats, four Republicans).
€ Thirty-one senators scored zero (seven Democrats, 24 Republicans).
€ Eighty-three representatives scored 100 or 100+ (69 Democrats, 14 Republicans).€ Thirty-seven representatives scored zero (three Democrats, 34 Republicans).
To read the entire report, find out the issues voted upon and how your representatives voted, visit http://www.fund.org/humanescorecard/.
Judy Vorreuter is the founder and director of Animal Advocates of the Finger Lakes. Contact her at judy@cayugaanimaladvocates.org
€ A bipartisan group of 31 senators and 100 representatives covering 38 states led as prime sponsors of pro-animal legislation and/or scored a perfect 100 - nearly one third of the Senate and one quarter of the House.
€ The average Senate score was a 43, with Senate Democrats averaging 60, and Senate Republicans averaging 24.
€ The average House score was a 53, with House Democrats averaging 71, and House Republicans averaging 33.
€ Seventeen senators scored 100 or 100+ (13 Democrats, four Republicans).
€ Thirty-one senators scored zero (seven Democrats, 24 Republicans).
€ Eighty-three representatives scored 100 or 100+ (69 Democrats, 14 Republicans).€ Thirty-seven representatives scored zero (three Democrats, 34 Republicans).
To read the entire report, find out the issues voted upon and how your representatives voted, visit http://www.fund.org/humanescorecard/.
Judy Vorreuter is the founder and director of Animal Advocates of the Finger Lakes. Contact her at judy@cayugaanimaladvocates.org
The Citizens' Say
There are 1 comment(s)
etbmfa wrote on Mar 25, 2008 4:26 PM:
(The Humane Society of the United States)
1. H$U$ does not operate or have direct control over any animal shelter. Buried deep within H$U$'s website is a disclaimer noting that the group "is not affiliated with, nor is it a parent organization for, local humane societies, animal shelters, or animal care and control agencies. When H$U$ merged with the Fund for Animals they acquired some animal sanctuaries but those are usually full when someone tries to send an animal there - unless the animal comes with a big check.
2. Since its inception, H$U$ has tried to limit the choices of American consumers, opposing dog breeding, conventional livestock and poultry farming, rodeos, circuses, horse racing, marine aquariums, fur trapping and medical research.
3. H$U$ raises enough money to help finance animal shelters in every single state, with money to spare, yet it doesn't operate a single one anywhere. Instead, H$U$ spends millions on programs that seek to economically cripple meat and dairy producers; eliminate the use of animals in biomedical research labs; phase out pet breeding, zoos, and circus animal acts; and demonize hunters as crazed lunatics. H$U$ spends $2 million each year on travel expenses alone, just keeping its multi-national agenda going.
4. While most local animal shelters are under-funded and unsung, H$U$ has accumulated $113 million in assets and built a recognizable brand by capitalizing on the confusion its very name provokes.
5. The current president of H$U$, Wayne Pacelle, is a former officer of PeTA.
6. H$U$ is currently under investigation by the Attorney General of Louisiana in regards to the disposition of Katrina funds. H$U$ has been under investigation by the FBI for their links to domestic terrorist organizations such as the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). One of their current officers, John P. Goodwin is a former member of ALF and a convicted felon for acts of terrorism related to animals.
7. H$U$ consistently jumps on the bandwagon of any animal issue to raise funds even if they are NOT directly involved. Most recently they used the Michael Vick case as a major fund raiser, even though H$U$ had nothing to do with the investigation or care of the Vick dogs.
Sources:
www.consumerfreedom.com
www.pet-law.com
www.naiaonline.org
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