SB233 Dead (for now)

[Guest guest]

For listmembers who have been following the SB233 story:

 

SB233 (the California bill that would remove kangaroos, crocodiles and

alligators from the current penal code that prohibits the sale of their body

parts) was heard today in the Senate Natural Resources & Wildlife Committee.

The bill was authored by Senator Dennis Hollingsworth.

 

The vote was 4 opposed and 3 in favor (one absent Senator was stated to be

against the bill). Please see below how each voted and who to write.

 

The bill died in committee.

 

Senator Hollingsworth had two experts on hand from the crocodile and

alligator industries (one from Louisiana and one from Florida). After

introducing these experts Hollingsworth said that he did not have an expert

from the kangaroo industry and that he would remove kangaroos for the time

being.

 

After the supporting parties (which consisted of the two experts and someone

from the California Commerce Department) spoke, those of us in opposition

were given an opportunity to present our arguments. The bill was then

discussed and a vote was taken. The committee voted not to move the bill out

of committee.

 

As for now this is good news. California's law to protect these species has

been upheld. Of course, this bill could still be attached to another this

session and/or re-introduced next year, but for now we are pleased that a

number of California Senators chose to uphold the law.

 

During the discussion, the committee chair, Senator Sheila Kuehl, mentioned

that a somewhat similar bill was being looked at in the Assembly. She said

that an organization from Australia and Adidas had expressed an interest in

getting involved. We are counting on our eyes and ears at the Capitol

(Virginia Handley and Rose Lernberg) to keep us informed on that one!

 

Viva! would like to thank every single person who called and wrote on this

issue. Letters poured in from all over California as well as Australia. More

than one Senator mentioned that they had heard a lot about the kangaroo!

 

Viva! would also like to thank those organizations who moved quickly and

took this issue seriously: ASPCA, API, Action for Animals - Oakland,

activists & organizations in Australia, Freedom for Animals, and Last Chance

for Animals. We are most grateful to Virginia Handley of the Fund for

Animals and Rose Lernberg of the Contra Costa Humane Society;- they kept

Viva! informed at every turn.

 

Please send a thank you note or hand-written letter to the following

Senators who voted against this bill:

 

Senator Sheila Kuehl

State Capitol

Room 4032

Sacramento, CA 95814

Senator.Kuehl

 

Senator Debra Bowen

State Capitol

Room 4040

Sacramento, CA 95814

Senator.Bowen

 

Senator Byron Sher

State Capitol

Room 2082

Sacramento, CA 95814

Senator.Sher

 

Senator Tom Torlakson

State Capitol

Room 5061

Sacramento, CA 95814

Senator.Torlakson

 

In favor of the bill: Senator Thomas " Rico " Oller, Senator Jeff Denham, and

Senator Dennis Hollingsworth. Other members were not in attendance.

 

Viva! will keep you posted on any future developments. We ask that you help

us continue to put pressure on Adidas. Kangaroos are still be killed by the

thousands every night and we must impact the demand.

 

For more information see:

http://www.vivausa.org/Campaigns/Kangaroo/adidas.htm

 

To order materials:

roos

 

Thank you again!

 

Viva!USA

www.vivausa.org

P.O. Box 4398

Davis, CA 95617

530/759-8482