Alert 1-25-07 Report from
Several VVAW bills were considered today by the House Ag Subcommittee, and likely of most interest is what happened with the gas chamber bill (HB3004).
gas chambers (HB3004 –
Even with some 35 legislators co-patroning this bill, it did not pass. Only two members of the committee voted to pass the bill: Del. Lynwood Lewis and Del. Jim Shuler.
However, the result of the effort may be that gas is eliminated sometime in 2008 without a law being passed.
We heard of the efforts being
made currently to have the remaining four gassing jurisdictions (Lee, Scott and
Wythe counties and the city of
This is good news. If gassing ends, it can be nothing but good news. We welcome that.
If this sounds like faint cheering only, it is because this sounds very much like what we heard last year. Even if it will really take place, it leaves the possibility of two more years of gassing.
In addition, we know there are facilities which have indicated their interest in resuming gas, and it wouldn’t be impossible for gassing to resume in order to get a piece of the $75,000.
Short of asking House Speaker Howell to reconsider this bill based on the number of co-patrons, there is nothing to be done legislatively with the current make-up of this committee. Amend that. There is nothing to be done with this current committee membership, period.
We can, of course, continue to urge the citizens of places using gas to get the local Board of Supervisors to make the change immediately, but we are unable to do anything further via the Virginia General Assembly this session.
We thank Del. Jim Scott for patroning this bill and for working to get co-patrons. We thank the co-patrons and will publish a final list of those who signed on in a day or so, as some signatures were coming in late yesterday.
Please join with us in thanking Del. Jim Scott for standing with us for the third time.
Note that there was another VVAW bill regarding gas chambers patroned by Del. Clay Athey. It differed from the Scott bill only by the date to become effective. Del. Athey’s bill was combined with that of Del. Scott.
rabies surcharge (HB2295 –
A lively discussion was had, and several committee members commended the idea of raising money for s/n programs. However, there were numerous comments about how difficult it would be to sort out where the money went and the vets didn’t want to get involved in collection of such monies.
Ultimately, because both Del. McClellan and her constituents, Lynne Rhode and Courtney Morano, were articulate and persuasive, this bill will be heard again next Wednesday by the full committee with some new language having been crafted by then.
This is good. Stay tuned. We want you to attend the Wednesday hearing.
tethering (HB2098 –
This bill failed. Some members of the committee tether their own dogs and see nothing wrong with doing so. Others testified that issues with dogs tethered arise from neglect and other owner behavior, so the problem was pushed back on irresponsible owners.
Testimony regarding the problems that develop with tethering fell on deaf ears.
Most moving was the testimony of a woman whose 2-year-old cousin was killed recently by a tethered dog. She was speaking in support of a parallel bill (HB2242) patroned by Del. Algie Howell.
Committee members just didn’t seem to care, and repeatedly said that tethering keeps the dogs (their dogs!!) safe. Del. Orrock proudly described his dog, Hershey, as a tethered dog, a dog when left off the tether cannot resist the call of his canine friends to run at large. Del. Orrock told - without the least embarrassment but rather proudly - of having to pick Hershey up at the hardware store where he had run off to visit, and even having to pick Hershey up from the local pound. Perhaps having dogs run at large is acceptable where Del. Orrock lives. As I recall, it was dogs running at large that resulted in the death of Dorothy Sullivan. How soon we forget…... And how one can see tethering as a better option than fencing is unclear.
Nonetheless, no tethering legislation will be forthcoming this session.
Remember, these are your legislators. Yours.
And what they have to say includes this remarkable diatribe. Del. Orrock complained about the volume of calls and emails he’s received in the last several days over various bills, saying the volume was so huge he was unable to represent the people he’s been elected to serve. He chastised those responsible and plainly said it caused him to view the bills promoted with disfavor. He further complained that some of the contacts were not from his constituents, and some were even out of state. It put a great burden on his office, he said.
Perhaps Del. Orrock should resign his chairmanship of this committee if he cannot handle both committee responsibilities and responsibilities to his electorate. Or do contacts on issues important to people, wherever they reside, come with the territory? You decide. But don’t tell Del. Orrock because you’ll tie up his lines.
humane ed (HJR567 –
This bill failed.
Two teachers testified in support, but the prevailing sentiment was that educators already have too much to do.
Note that another VVAW humane ed bill (SB1276) patroned by Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple also failed.
The remaining humane ed bill is SJR375, also patroned by Sen. Whipple. It will be heard on Monday, 1/29/07, at 2:30 in GAB 3 East.
license fee cap change
(HB1959 –
Del. Hargrove popped in to the committee hearing at one point during the proceedings. He never returned. A message was delivered that Del. Hargrove tabled his own (our) bill.
We had worked with Del. Hargrove to make this bill successful this time – our third go on it – and said we would help make it successful by trying to have it assigned to a committee other than the House Ag Subcommittee.
We were unsuccessful in getting House Speaker Howell to assign the bill elsewhere.
Del. Hargrove likely was told of what had already happened with bills considered this morning, so he – wisely? - decided not to try again.
This bill’s failure closes off a significant way to fund change.
dealer permits (HB3195 0
Del. Athey did not appear for the hearing.
Don spoke in support of the bill, saying rather than having dealer permits be permissive (i.e., jurisdictions can decide whether or not to have dealer permits for those selling companion animals), the change was to make such permits mandatory when there is an excess population leading to companion animals being euthanized.
The bill failed, and a way to help stop the flow of companion animals was closed off.
in summary:
We had a wonderful turnout of supporters despite the new location and the early hour. We tried to collect names but didn’t do well. Please let me know if you attended, and please let me know of others who were there as well. This was a good crowd, and the VVAW buttons identified us to each other and the group. Thank you to all.
other hearings earlier this week:
The tax credit bills (HB2686 – Del. Cline and HB3053 - Del. Hull) both failed.
There is no appetite for spending a penny this year. And giving tax credits equates in the minds of the legislature to spending money. Unfortunately, this is the current view of those holding office.
And, as reported earlier, the releasing agencies bill (HB1853 - Del. Wittman) failed.
next:
We have work to do.
On Friday, 1/26/07, the abuse fine bill (HB1900 – Del. Albo) will be heard.
On Monday, 1/29/06, the Senate Ag Committee will hear SB930, the humane investigator bill (Sen. Ticer), and SB1345, the reporting of suspected dog fighting bill (Sen. Lambert).
And on that same Monday, 1/29/06, the last humane ed bill (SJR375 – Sen. Whipple) will be heard at 2:30.
Please come to as many of these as you can.
more later
Lillian Clancy and Don Marro