Louisiana Humane Scorecard

Transcription

1 Louisiana Humane Scorecard A P r o j e c t o f t h e H u m a n e S o c i e t y L e g i s l a t iv e F u n d Sessions hslf.org

2 Louisiana Legislative Sessions in Review 2 THE 2006 AND 2007 SESSIONS OF THE LOUISIANA state legislature were historic in many ways. As the state recovered from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, lawmakers focused on public policies to rebuild institutions, stimulate the economy, and help displaced citizens return home. But animals weren t forgotten, and with Louisiana in the national spotlight, state legislators made bold advances to protect the human-animal bond and put an end to the worst forms of animal cruelty. The Last Bastion of Most notably, in 2007 Louisiana became the last state to approve legislation to outlaw cockfighting. After years of debate in Baton Rouge, and after New Mexico became the 49th state to ban cockfighting earlier in the year, Louisiana lawmakers passed two bills designed to eventually halt the barbaric practice. The final ban was delayed a year, but that postponement was made somewhat more tolerable after anticockfighting lawmakers succeeded in passing an immediate ban on gambling at cockfights. The full ban on cockfighting takes effect Aug. 15, 2008, and the gambling ban took effect Aug. 15, Our thanks go to retiring Sen. Arthur J. Art Lentini (R-10), the state s leading opponent of cockfighting, who wrote both the gambling bill and a bill that would have immediately banned cockfighting, as well as House Agriculture Committee Chairman Francis C. Thompson (D-19), who helped shepherd the gambling bill through the House and negotiate a compromise on the House and Senate cockfighting bills. Banning cockfighting in all 50 states has long been a top priority for the Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF). With the New Mexico and Louisiana bans and the enactment of a new federal law to make interstate transport of fighting animals a felony, we have taken several major steps toward the eradication of this gruesome blood sport. Other Victories for Animals The historic ban on cockfighting wasn t the only advance for animals in Louisiana. In 2006, following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, lawmakers passed a bill by Sen. Heulette Clo Fontenot (R-13) requiring local disaster plans to include household pets and service animals. Many people refused to evacuate before and after the hurricanes because government responders didn t allow them to take HSLF. All rights reserved. their pets. Lawmakers have recognized the importance of the human-animal bond and realized that including animals in disaster plans will enhance relief efforts in future disasters. Also in 2006, with passage of a bill sponsored by Rep. Bryant O. Hammett (D-21), now secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Louisiana joined the growing number of states that have banned Internet hunting shooting animals remotely through a website. Lawmakers also passed two important measures sponsored by longtime animal advocate Rep. Warren J. Triche Jr. (D-55). The first bill protects public safety and animal welfare by prohibiting the private ownership of dangerous tigers, lions, and other big cats as exotic pets. The second Triche bill extends the state s anticruelty protections to emus, ostriches, swans, and other bird species. While several other animal protection bills didn t make it all the way to the governor s desk, they helped set the stage for future reforms. In 2007, state lawmakers considered a bill to prohibit felons from owning dangerous dogs. Such a ban would stem the tide of animals ending up in the hands of dogfighters and other people who view them as weapons rather than pets. Legislators also considered a bill to collect a fee on wholesale pet food sales to help fund community animal care and shelter programs. How to Use the Scorecard HSLF has published this Louisiana Humane Scorecard to measure the support of state legislators for a broad range of animal protection issues. We aim to provide an easy way for constituents to assess how their state senators and representatives acted on these issues, as well as to chart the progress of our public policy work on behalf of animals. We hope you ll study this scorecard and use it as a tool to ensure that your legislators represent your interests in Baton Rouge. Let legislators know that you re watching and you appreciate their support for pro-animal legislation or, if they haven t done enough, let them know you d like to see them do more. (HSLF acknowledges the inherent limitations of judging a legislator on the basis of a few select votes. Please consider such unrecorded matters as performance on committees and constituent service.)

3 Senate Scored Votes (2006) Internet Hunting A indicates that a member voted for H.B. 52 introduced by Rep. Bryant O. Hammett (D-21) (now secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries) to prohibit computer-assisted remote hunting, also known as Internet hunting. Launched in Texas in 2005, Internet hunting allows a website user to shoot animals stocked at canned hunt facilities by controlling a remote camera and firing a gun with a stroke of the keyboard or a click of the mouse. Louisiana is among 34 states that have banned the practice. The Senate passed the bill on May 1, 2006, by a vote of Cruelty to Birds A indicates that a member voted for H.B introduced by Rep. Warren J. Triche Jr. (D-55) to add cassowaries, emus, kiwis, ostriches, peafowls, ratites, rheas, and swans to the list of species protected under the state s anticruelty law. Previously, the law exempted acts of cruelty against these species in order to prevent prosecutions of cockfighters. The Senate passed the bill on May 23, 2006, by a vote of Disasters A indicates that a member voted for S.B. 607 introduced by Sen. Heulette Clo Fontenot (R-13) to include animals in disaster planning. This bill requires state and local authorities to make provisions for service animals and household pets in disaster plans and to help plan for the humane evacuation, transport, and temporary sheltering of service animals and household pets in times of emergency or disaster. The Senate passed the bill on May 30, 2006, by a vote of Big Cats as Pets A indicates that a member voted for H.B. 795 introduced by Rep. Warren J. Triche Jr. (D-55) to prohibit the private ownership of big cats as exotic pets. Tigers, lions, and other big cats pose a danger to our communities; they re often kept in inhumane conditions and cruelly declawed or defanged. The Senate passed the bill on June 6, 2006, by a vote of (Immediate Ban) A indicates that a member voted for S.B. 652 introduced by Sen. Arthur Lentini (R-10) to ban cockfighting. Although the legislation died in the House, it set the stage for final passage of a cockfighting ban in The Senate passed the bill on May 23, 2006, by a vote of (Agriculture Committee Referral) A indicates that a member voted against a motion to refer S.B. 652 to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development. Sending a cockfighting bill to the agriculture committee was typically seen as a move to kill the legislation (although later in 2006, for the first time, the committee reported the bill favorably). The Senate approved the motion to refer the bill on May 3, 2006, by a vote of The 16 members who voted no took the pro-animal position. (Local Option) A indicates that a member voted against a poison pill amendment to S.B. 652 offered by Sen. Nick Gautreaux (D-26) designed to kill the cockfighting legislation. The amendment would have allowed local parishes to choose whether or not to allow cockfighting, gutting the force of a statewide ban. The Senate defeated this hostile amendment on May 23, 2006, by a vote of The 31 members who voted no took the pro-animal position. Quick Reference How a Bill Becomes a Law in Louisiana I N THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE, A BILL IS INTROduced and referred to a committee. The committee then holds a hearing to consider the bill and vote on its passage from the committee phase. If the bill passes committee, it then goes to the chamber floor to be debated and voted on. If the bill passes its chamber of origin, it s sent to the other chamber, where it s again referred to a committee. The committee will consider the bill and vote on it. If the bill passes, it will move to the full chamber for a vote. If a bill passes both chambers in identical form, it s sent to the governor. The governor may sign the bill into law or veto it. If the two chambers pass different versions of a bill, it s sent to conference committee, where the differences are hammered out. If both chambers vote in favor of the conference committee agreement, the bill is sent to the governor. Adapted from How a Bill Becomes Law in Louisiana at legis.state.la.us. 3

4 Senate Scored Votes (2007) (Immediate Ban) A indicates that a member voted for S.B. 39 introduced by Sen. Arthur Lentini (R-10) to ban cockfighting. Although a different measure ultimately passed both chambers and was signed into law, Lentini s bill was the strongest anticockfighting measure introduced, and its overwhelming passage in the Senate set the stage for a strong negotiating position with House leaders. The Senate passed the bill on May 15, 2007, by a vote of (Phaseout) A indicates that a member voted against a weakening amendment to S.B. 39 offered by Sen. Donald R. Cravins Jr. (D-24) that would have postponed the cockfighting ban by one year. The Senate rejected this amendment on May 15, 2007, by a vote of (Judiciary) A indicates that a member voted for a motion to refer H.B. 108 to the Senate Judiciary C Committee. Sending a cockfighting bill to the agriculture committee was typically seen as a move to kill the legislation, while sending it to the judiciary committee was seen as a friendly move. The bill came to the Senate from the House as an 18-month phaseout with several weakening amendments. The Judiciary C Committee improved the legislation by shortening the phaseout period to one year. The Senate approved the motion to refer the bill on May 14, 2007, by a vote of (Final Passage) A indicates that a member voted for the final passage of H.B. 108 introduced by Rep. Harold L. Ritchie (D-75) as amended by the Senate Judiciary C Committee. As originally introduced, the Ritchie bill would have given cockfighters three years to continue their activities; when passed by the House, the phaseout period was shortened to 18 months. The Senate committee shortened the phaseout even more, to one year; the cockfighting bill that was signed into law takes effect on Aug. 15, The Senate passed this favorable version of a compromise bill on June 18, 2007, by a vote of A indicates that a member voted for the final passage of S.B. 221 introduced by Sen. Arthur Lentini (R-10) to prohibit gambling or wagering at any cockfight. While the cockfighting ban becomes effective in 2008, the gambling ban took effect immediately and has already forced major cockfighting pits to shut down. The Senate passed the bill on June 25, 2007, by a vote of A Note on the Scorecard Scores are given as a percentage of the total number of items counted (12 for the Senate). For example, a senator who was pro-animal on 11 of the 12 items received a score of KEY TO CHARTS A vote for the animals A vote against the animals Excused absence from the vote

5 Votes in the Louisiana Senate SENATE MEMBERS 2006 Votes Internet Hunting Cruelty to Birds Disasters Big Cats as Pets (Immediate Ban) (Ag. Comm. Referral) Adley (D-36) 83 Amedee (D-18) 92 Bajoie (D-5) 92 Barham (R-33) 83 Boasso (D-1) 75 Broome (D-15) 100 Cain (R-30) 58 Cassidy (R-16) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Chaisson (D-19) 100 Cheek (R-38) 92 Cravins Sr. (D-24) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 57 2 Cravins Jr. (D-24) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 1 Dardenne (R-16) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Duplessis (D-2) 67 Dupre (D-20) 100 Ellington (D-32) 83 Fields (D-14) 42 Fontenot (R-13) 50 Gautreaux, B. (D-21) 100 Gautreaux, N. (D-26) 33 Heitmeier (D-7) 83 Hines (D-28) 42 Hollis (R-9) 100 Jackson (D-39) 100 Jones (D-34) 75 Kostelka (R-35) 100 Lentini (R-10) 100 (Local Option) 2007 Votes (Immediate Ban) (Phaseout) (Judiciary) (Final Passage) SCORE Malone (R-37) 83 Marionneaux (D-17) 58 McPherson (D-29) 75 Michot (R-23) 67 Mount (D-27) 92 Murray (D-4) 92 Nevers (D-12) 75 Quinn (R-6) 83 Romero (R-22) 33 Schedler (R-11) 83 Shepherd (D-3) 50 Smith (D-31) 83 Theunissen (R-25) 75 Ullo (D-8) Did not serve in Did not serve in

6 House Scored Votes (2006) 6 Disasters A indicates that a member voted for S.B. 607 introduced by Sen. Heulette Clo Fontenot (R-13) to include animals in disaster planning. This bill requires state and local authorities to make provisions for service animals and household pets in disaster plans and to help plan for the humane evacuation, transport, and temporary sheltering of service animals and household pets in times of emergency or disaster. The House passed the bill on June 15, 2006, by a vote of Big Cats as Pets A indicates that a member voted for H.B. 795 introduced by Rep. Warren J. Triche Jr. (D-55) to control the private ownership of big cats as exotic pets. Tigers, lions, and other big cats pose a danger to our communities; they re often kept in inhumane conditions and cruelly declawed or defanged. The House passed the bill on April 10, 2006, by a vote of Subsequent regulatory action prohibits the private ownership of big cats as pets. Exotic Snakes as Pets A indicates that a member voted for H.B. 783 introduced by Rep. Warren J. Triche Jr. (D-55) to prohibit the private ownership of nonindigenous constrictor snakes as exotic pets. Although this bill died in the Senate, it set the stage for future legislation dealing with the threats to public safety and animal welfare posed by the keeping of exotic pets. The House passed the bill on April 11, 2006, by a vote of Internet Hunting A indicates that a member voted for H.B. 52 introduced by Rep. Bryant O. Hammett (D-21) (now secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries) to prohibit computer-assisted remote hunting, also known as Internet hunting. Launched in Texas in 2005, Internet hunting allows a website user to shoot animals stocked at canned hunt facilities by controlling a remote camera and firing a gun with a stroke of the keyboard or a click of the mouse. Louisiana is among 34 states that have banned the practice. The House passed the bill on April 10, 2006, by a vote of Cruelty to Birds A indicates that a member voted for H.B introduced by Rep. Warren J. Triche Jr. (D-55) to add cassowaries, emus, kiwis, ostriches, peafowls, ratites, rheas, and swans to the list of species protected under the state s anticruelty law. Previously, the law exempted acts of cruelty against these species in order to prevent prosecutions of cockfighters. The House passed the bill on April 27, 2006, by a vote of (Criminal Justice Referral) A indicates that a member voted for a motion to refer S.B. 652 to the House Committee on Criminal Justice. Sending a cockfighting bill to the agriculture committee was typically seen as a move to kill the legislation, while sending it to the judiciary committee was seen as a friendly move. Because this motion failed, the bill instead was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development, where it died in The House rejected the motion to refer the bill on May 25, 2006, by a vote of

7 House Scored Votes (2007) (Criminal Justice Referral) A indicates that a member voted for a motion to refer S.B. 39 to the House Committee on Criminal Justice. Sending a cockfighting bill to the agriculture committee was typically seen as a move to kill the legislation, while sending it to the judiciary committee was seen as a friendly move. The House rejected the motion to refer the bill on May 22, 2007, by a vote of (Phaseout) A indicates that a member voted against a motion to reject the Senate amendments to H.B The Ritchie bill as originally introduced would have given cockfighters three years to continue their activities; when passed by the House, the phaseout was shortened to 18 months. The Senate committee shortened the phaseout even more, to one year. The House vote to reject the Senate amendments was an attempt by cockfighting advocates to delay the ban. The legislation was then sent to a conference committee. The House voted to reject the Senate amendments on June 19, 2007, by a vote of The 33 members who voted no took the pro-animal position. A indicates that a member voted for the final passage of S.B. 221 introduced by Sen. Arthur Lentini (R-10) to prohibit gambling or wagering at cockfights. While the cockfighting ban becomes effective in 2008, the gambling ban took effect immediately and has already forced major cockfighting pits to shut down. The House passed the bill on June 21, 2007, by a vote of (Weakening Amendments) A indicates that a member voted against a set of amendments to S.B 221 offered by Rep. Jack Smith (D-50) that were designed to kill the legislation. One component would have delayed the effective date of the gambling ban until cockfighting was banned in the state. The other would have prohibited any minor under the age of 18 from attending a cockfight, a halfway measure designed to undercut the effort to ban all gambling at cockfighting. The House rejected this set of poison pill amendments on June 21, 2007, by a vote of The 55 members who voted no took the pro-animal position. Dangerous Dogs A indicates that a member voted for H.B. 186 introduced by Rep. Warren J. Triche Jr. (D-55) to prohibit convicted felons from owning, possessing, having custody of, or residing with a dangerous dog. The measure would stem the tide of animals ending up in the hands of dogfighters and other people who view them as weapons rather than pets. Although it died in the Senate, the bill is likely to gain support in the next session due to the heightened attention to dogfighting. The House passed the bill on May 16, 2007, by a vote of 99-0 A Note on the Scorecard Scores are given as a percentage of the total number of items counted (11 for the House). For example, a representative who was pro-animal on 10 of the 11 items received a score of 91. KEY TO CHARTS A vote for the animals A vote against the animals Excused absence from the vote NV Unexcused absence from the vote 7

8 8 Votes in the Louisiana House 2006 Votes House Members SCORE Alario (D-83) 45 Alexander (R-43) 100 Disasters Big Cats as Pets Exotic Snakes as Pets Internet Hunting Cruelty to Birds (Criminal Justice Referral) 2007 Votes (Criminal Justice Referral) Anders (D-21) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 40 1 Ansardi (D-92) 91 Arnold (D-102) 73 Badon (D-100) 64 Baldone (D-53) 64 Barrow (D-29) 64 Baudoin (D-39) 36 Baylor (D-3) 73 Beard (R-69) 100 Bowler (R-78) 91 Bruce (D-7) 55 Bruneau (R-94) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 83 2 Burns (R-89) 100 Burrell (D-2) 64 Carter, K. (D-93) 100 Carter, R. (D-72) 64 Cazayoux (D-18) 82 Chandler (D-22) NV NV NV NV 45 Crane (R-70) 82 Cravins Jr. (D-40) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 83 2 Crowe (R-76) 100 Curtis (D-26) 55 Damico (D-84) 73 Daniel (R-68) 82 Dartez (D-51) 55 DeWitt (D-25) 55 Doerge (D-10) 55 Dorsey (D-67) 64 Dove (R-52) 73 Downs (R-12) 73 Durand (D-46) 55 Erdey (R-71) 64 Fannin (D-13) 73 Farrar (D-27) 64 Faucheux (D-57) 73 Frith (D-47) 73 Gallot (D-11) 64 Geymann (R-35) 91 Glover (D-4) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 83 2 Gray (D-98) 82 Greene (R-66) 73 Guillory, E.J. (D-34) 64 Guillory, E.L. (D-40) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 20 1 Guillory, M. (D-41) 55 Hammett (D-21) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 83 2 Harris (D-87) 55 Heaton (R-95) 73 Hebert (D-49) 55 Hill (D-32) 64 Honey (D-63) 45 Hopkins (D-2) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 83 2 Hunter (D-17) 55 Hutter (R-104) 91 (Phaseout) (Weakening Amendments) Dangerous Dogs 1 Did not serve in Did not serve in 2007

9 Votes in the Louisiana House House Members SCORE Jackson (D-61) Votes Disasters Big Cats as Pets Exotic Snakes as Pets Internet Hunting Cruelty to Birds (Criminal Justice Referral) 2007 Votes (Criminal Justice Referral) Jefferson-Bullock (D-91) 64 Johns (R-33) 64 Katz (R-16) 91 Kennard (R-65) 45 Kenney (D-20) 73 Kleckley (R-36) 91 LaBruzzo (R-81) 82 LaFleur (D-38) 45 LaFonta (D-96) 64 Lambert (R-59) 82 Lancaster (R-80) 82 Lorusso (R-94) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Marchand (D-99) 64 Martiny (R-79) 91 McDonald (D-14) 73 McVea (R-62) 55 Montgomery (R-9) 64 Morrell (D-97) NV 45 Morris (R-1) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 80 1 Morrish (R-37) 73 Odinet (D-103) 55 Pierre (D-44) 55 Pinac (D-42) 73 Pitre (R-54) 100 Powell, H. (R-73) 82 Powell, M. (R-6) 100 Quezaire (D-58) 64 Richmond (D-101) 45 Ritchie (D-75) 55 Robideaux (I-45) 82 Romero (D-48) 64 Salter (D-24) 55 Scalise (R-82) 100 Schneider (R-90) 82 Smiley (R-88) 91 Smith, G. (D-56) 73 Smith, J. D. (D-50) 55 Smith, J. H. (R-8) 100 Smith, J. R. (D-30) 64 St. Germain (D-60) 55 Strain (R-74) 82 Thompson (D-19) 73 Toomy (R-85) 100 Townsend (D-23) 64 Trahan (R-31) 64 Triche (D-55) 100 Tucker (R-86) 91 Waddell (R-5) 100 Walker (D-28) 73 Walsworth (R-15) 91 White (R-64) 73 Williams (D-4) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 60 1 Winston (R-77) 91 Wooton (R-105) 100 (Phaseout) (Weakening Amendments) Dangerous Dogs 1 Did not serve in Did not serve in

10 What You Can Do SHARE THIS SCORECARD. YOU CAN ACCESS THE ONline version, which is updated periodically, at humanescorecard.org. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper(s) to call attention to these issues. And if you re not yet a member of HSLF, please join today. For as little as a $10 donation, you ll receive our award-winning bimonthly Humane Activist newsletter and a printed copy of our annual federal Humane Scorecard.* What Else Can You Do? Join the Humane Action Network to learn about issues like those mentioned here at the state and national levels. We ll contact you when a call or letter is needed and when legislation is at a critical point. You can decide then if you have the time to act! We try to make your action easy and effective. Please join today by signing up online at hslf.org or ing info@hslf.org. HELPFUL NUMBERS & WEBSITES LOUISIANA STATE LEGISLATURE legis.state.la.us; TO FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS hslf.org/leglookup TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS house.louisiana.gov/h_reps/h_reps_fullinfo.asp senate.legis.state.la.us/senators/offices.asp HUMANE SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE FUND hslf.org About HSLF UMANE SOCIETY LEGISLATIVE FUND (HSLF) IS a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. HSLF was formed in 2004 by The Humane Society of the United States and The Fund for Animals, two of the nation s leading animal protection organizations. In 2006, the Doris Day Animal League joined forces with HSLF. As the new lobbying arm of three organizations that have long recognized the need for public policy changes for animals, HSLF can increase our public policy work, build an army of trained political activists, and compete with opposition groups that have long been operating at a different level. We may not be able to match our opponents dollar for dollar, but we will be more aggressive and more effective. That means more lobbyists at the state and federal levels, more ballot initiatives, and more victories for animals. * Contributions or gifts to Humane Society Legislative Fund ( HSLF ) are not tax deductible. Your donation may be used for lobbying to pass laws to protect animals, as well as for political purposes, such as supporting or opposing candidates. HSLF does not accept contributions from business corporations or labor organizations. H 519 C Street NE Washington, DC hslf.org ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED