Alert 2/7/08     Get These Two Bills Out of the House!!

 

CROSS-POST WIDELY  

 

Both the puppymill bill, HB538, and the dogfighting bill, HB656, made it past the House Appropriations Subcommittee today.

 

HB538, patroned by Del. Orrock, faced opposition, but in the end, the bill was reported out (that is good). While votes are not recorded (can you believe it? not recorded), we believe that Del. Watkins Abbitt was the only person voting against the bill.

 

HB656, patroned by Del. Morgan Griffith, didn’t face opposition (or at least no opposition that was voiced) but did face a committee not quite sure what to do. To oppose the bill with all that has gone on this year with Michael Vick would seem to fly in the face of reason (and fly in the face of constituents), yet we believe the voice vote had but two in opposition: Del. Watkins Abbitt (again!) and Del. Clarke Hogan. Remember their names.

 

Our understanding is that both bills now need to be reported out of the full House Appropriations Committee and then to be voted on by the full House.

 

The vote on both bills by the entire House might take place OVER THE WEEKEND, or might be taken on Monday, 2/11/08.

 

Please do this:

1. Contact your delegate about each bill (call or email).

 

2. If you send an email, make it simple. The subject line can read: HB538 – please support.

 

The other email, sent to the same delegate, can have the subject line: HB656 – please support

 

3. The message can be equally simple.

 

Say you are a constituent and you want Del. ___ to vote in favor of HB538.

 

The other says the same thing except asks that the vote be in favor of HB656.

 

Please make sure you end the email with your name, address, and phone.

 

4. To determine your delegate, click here:

 

http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform

 

Please do yourself a favor. When you determine who your delegate is, write down that person’s name, phone, and email and tack it to the wall next to your phone or next to your computer.

 

Please do the same for your state senator (for next week….)

 

5. It is critical for you to make these contacts.

 

While HB656, the dogfighting bill, appears to have no opposition, please still voice your support for it.

 

6. HOWEVER, the breeders were out in force today, opposing the puppymill bill with all variations of why.

 

THIS BILL, HB538, COULD STILL BE DEFEATED IF THE FULL HOUSE DOESN’T VOTE ITS PASSAGE, AND IT MAY NOT – IF YOU DON’T SHOW YOUR SUPPORT, AND GET OTHERS TO DO THE SAME WITH THEIR DELEGATE.

 

HERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP STOP THE FLOW OF EXCESS PETS IN VIRGINIA.

 

REMEMBER KIM KINCHELOE’S WORDS: IN VIRGINIA, WE BREED A LOT, ADOPT A FEW, AND KILL THE REST.

 

YOU CAN MAKE IT DIFFERENT. PLEASE DO IT, EVEN IF YOU CONTACTED YOUR DELEGATE ALREADY ABOUT THE VOTE TAKEN TODAY. THIS IS A NEW VOTE AND IT NEEDS YOU!

 

7. GET THE HOUSE TO SUPPORT THESE BILLS SO THEY CAN GO OVER TO THE SENATE NEXT WEEK, AND THEN TO GOV. KAINE TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW!

 

MAKE CHANGE!

 

Thanks.

 

Lillian Clancy and Don Marro

 

It you want to write something more extensive, see the puppymill bill at:

 

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb538&Submit2=Go

 

 

And see the dogfighting bill at:

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=081&typ=bil&val=hb656&Submit2=Go