Florez is at it Again
|
On A Loose Lead PetPAC Opposes SB 1277 Senator Dean Florez, D-Shafter, has introduced legislation (SB 1277) to create a new Animal Protection Fund in the State Treasury based on fines paid by convicted animal abusers. Supporters of the bill are more interested in allocating state funds to pay for mandatory spay and neuter programs administered by local governments than they are in reducing animal cruelty. PetPAC supports all honest efforts to reduce animal abuse but this bill is clearly not part of the solution. In fact it becomes part of the problem by claiming to put in place a government bureaucracy aimed at penalizing and disclosing publically convicted animal abusers when its main intent is a whopping 97% free government give-away of its generated revenue to “reimburse” local mandatory surgical sterilization programs. Yes, that’s right folks! 97% of the money this legislation creates won’t even be used for its stated purpose. SB 1277 seems to violate the California Constitution regarding legislative procedures: “A statute shall embrace but one subject, which shall be expressed in its title. If a statute embraces a subject not expressed in its title, only the part not expressed is void.” Senator Florez is playing a typical bait and switch game. Under SB 1277, $287 million a year will be given to any individual, group, or organization that deals with spay and neuter, with no questions asked and no requirements. Only 3% of money this bill would generate actually supports its stated purpose of registering convicted criminals. PetPAC wishes to extend our sincerest gratitude to our members for their support in amending an earlier version of this bill that would have levied a fee on innocent pet owners, pet stores, and pet food manufacturers to pay for the hidden agenda in Senator Florez’s initiative. PetPAC continues to provide the leadership and means for mounting political opposition to those like Senator Florez who seek to disguise their efforts at eliminating the rights of pet owners everywhere under the guise of pet advocacy. While creating Senator Florez’s fund will cost the state $287 million a year, a free nationwide animal abuse registry already exists. A private animal abuse information registry at pet-abuse.com already exists and covers all animal abuse crimes. There are no restrictions of its use and there is no cost to taxpayers. PetPAC enthusiastically supports all efforts to punish animal abusers everywhere. The creation of a costly statewide bureaucracy that provides no oversight of wasteful spending at the local level does nothing to further our need for greater animal protection. Such an agency as Senator Florez’s bill would create instead carries out a hidden agenda that causes more harm by claiming to protect animals in name only.
|
