| Page 2 - PAWS bill |
| This PAWS bill was proposed by Senator Rick Santorum, the 3rd ranking Republican, well known as being animal rightist, anti-rescue, and anti-dog owner. He has previously proposed animal rights legislation, but none as strong as the PAWS bill. This bill is being discussed in the Senate Agriculture Committee, headed up by Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia). If it makes it out of the committee it must be voted on in both the US Senate and House of Representa-tives. These legislators have just heard that this proposed bill will help shut down the puppy mills. They want to be a supporter of legislation that promotes the humane treatment of animals They don’t really understand what all this bill would affect if passed. We need to contact our congressmen while the bill is still in committee and let them know what’s worrying you why this bill is a problem. Urge them to vote against it on the floor. It’s best to warn/educate your own legislators before that vote time. If you want to read the bill for yourself, go to www.pet-law.com/ paws/ ppa3.html You can go to http://saova.org/1139.html for more bill impact information. Lyndon Johnson, 36th President of the US, said “You should not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harm it would cause if improperly administered.” Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis said “The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well meaning but without under-standing.” I think both these quotes apply here. Please, quickly encourage all clubs and breeders in your District to voice their opinion opposing this bill. If you email, fax, or write letters: Put “Oppose” or “Vote No” in the email subject line or in the first paragraph of your note. Be polite but let them know you are upset over this bill. Be brief but tell them why you oppose this bill. And put your name and mailing address at the bottom. The Dog Federation of Wisconsin’s site http://dfow.org/paws.htm has 3 sample letters and several well-written position statements if you are looking for ideas. The Sportsman’s and Animal Owners Voting Alliance has a web site at http://saova.org/1130.html where 3/4 down the page you will find a brief email example you can send to key staffers of the legislative committees. I’ve made it easy by listing numerous phone and fax numbers below. The NAIA Trust Organization has a site www.naiatrust.org where you click on Legislative Corner, plug in your zip code, and it will bring up who your congressmen are and information on contacting them. Or go to: http://www.congress.org/ congressorg/home If there's a big ad in the top middle of the page, click 'ignore this ad.' You'll see a box in which you can enter your zip code. Do it and you'll get a page with email addresses of your state's two senators and your own representative. Follow the directions to send your email to each of them. It takes about 10 minutes for all three. You can go to www.visi.com/juan/congress/ailjuan.html , select the committee, and then link to the committee members. Phone and fax numbers are there for everyone. Get your pencil and paper or prepare to print out page 3 for many phone numbers and fax numbers and more web addresses. Don't depend on everyone else to call and fax. They may be sitting there thinking you will do it. It will take BOTH of you taking action to fight this bill. |