{"id":714,"date":"2009-03-20T09:33:05","date_gmt":"2009-03-20T15:33:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.8statekate.net\/wordpress\/?p=714"},"modified":"2009-03-20T23:04:38","modified_gmt":"2009-03-21T05:04:38","slug":"update-act-before-monday-march-23rd-to-support-minnesota-puppykitten-mill-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.8statekate.net\/wordpress\/?p=714","title":{"rendered":"Update–Act Before Monday, March 23rd to Support Minnesota Puppy\/Kitten Mill Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s\u00c2\u00a0an update showing that phone calls have been successful for supporting the proposed puppy\/kitten mill bill in Minnesota. Action is needed again before the bill is heard by the House’s Civil Justice Committee on March 23rd. Please note that the definition of commercial breeder has been changed to include breeders with 20 or more intact companion animals and producing 5 or more litters per year. Read the message below and make phone calls\u00c2\u00a0before March 23rd. Thanks for your support!<\/span><\/p>\n

HEARING UPDATE AND ACTION NEEDED<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

GREAT NEWS \u00e2\u20ac\u201c <\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On Tuesday, March 17, the members of the House Public Safety Committee<\/span><\/span> passed H.F. 253 by a wide margin – 13 Yes votes to 4 No votes <\/strong>(the No votes were Representatives Bruce Anderson, Steve Drazkowski<\/span><\/span>, Paul Kohls, and Ron Shimanski.). Your calls do make a difference!<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

An amendment was offered by Rep. Tillberry (author of H.F. 253) that had been worked out with several interested parties to assure continuing progress.\u00c2\u00a0 Certain language from Rep. Juhnke’s bill (H.F. 573) was amended into H.F. 253 and supporters of Rep. Juhnke\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s bill now support H.F. 253. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The biggest change to the bill\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s language is the definitions of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153commercial breeder\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hobby breeder\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.\u00c2\u00a0 Instead of having the count for commercial breeders include 6 intact \u00e2\u20ac\u0153females\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, the number was changed to \u00e2\u20ac\u015320 or more adult intact animals\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and includes breeders who produce five or more litters per year.\u00c2\u00a0 To keep the bill moving forward, the coalition supported this compromise.\u00c2\u00a0 Committee members acknowledged these collaborative efforts by voting Yes.\u00c2\u00a0 The coalition will continue to fight for the strongest language possible while working collaboratively to get legislation passed.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

ACTION NEEDED – PLEASE CALL NOW<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We need your help again.\u00c2\u00a0 The Minnesota Puppy and Kitten Mill bill \u00e2\u20ac\u201c H.F. 253<\/strong> \u00e2\u20ac\u201c is going to be heard in the House Civil Justice Committee<\/span><\/span> on Monday, March 23<\/span><\/strong>. \u00c2\u00a0Please call all of the members on the committee before 4:00 p.m. Monday<\/strong> <\/span>and leave a message asking them to vote in favor of Representative Tillberry\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s bill (H.F. 253)<\/strong>. (See Note below)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As you may know, hearings are unpredictable. \u00c2\u00a0Unforeseen amendments to weaken the bill may be introduced by committee members at the hearing, which is why it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important to urge them not to accept any amendments that would weaken it.\u00c2\u00a0 Legislators are hearing from dog and cat breeders<\/span><\/span>, hunting groups, the NRA<\/span><\/span>, and others who oppose the bill (or any regulation) so they need to hear from us.\u00c2\u00a0 We need to protect Minnesota dogs and cats<\/span><\/span> who are forced to live in substandard and deplorable conditions. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Calls<\/strong> at this critical time are more effective than emails.\u00c2\u00a0 Important <\/strong>– If you are a constituent of a committee member listed below, be sure he\/she knows that. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Note:<\/span><\/span><\/strong> If you already called all the House Public Safety Committee members, then you only need to call the ones highlighted in red<\/span> below because they have not heard from you yet. \u00c2\u00a0(Legislators sit on multiple committees.) \u00c2\u00a0If you didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have a chance to contact those members, then please call all members of the House Civil Justice Committee below.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

House Civil Justice Committee<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Call by Monday, March 23 – Support H.F. 253<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chair:\u00c2\u00a0 Representative Joe Mullery \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-4262<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Vice Chair:\u00c2\u00a0 Representative Gail Kulick Jackson \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-6746<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Bobby Joe Champion \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-8659<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Steve Drazkowski \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-2273<\/span><\/span> (he voted NO in Public Safety)<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Debra Hilstrom \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-3709<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Mary Liz Holberg \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-6926<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Melissa Hortman<\/span><\/span> \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-4280<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Sheldon Johnson<\/span><\/span> \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-4201<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Tim Kelly \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-8635<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Tim Mahoney<\/span><\/span><\/span> \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-4277<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Dave Olin \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-9635<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Michael Paymar\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-4199<\/span><\/span> (co-author)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Peggy Scott \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-4231<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Torrey Westrom<\/span><\/span> \u00e2\u20ac\u201c 651-296-4929<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Talking Points<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

H.F. 253 addresses the problem<\/strong> (inhumane breeding conditions and practices) through:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n