Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Passage of California law on animal confinement makes industry fear similar measures in Congress

At annual gatherings of agriculture groups this winter, one of the hottest topics is the prospect of new laws or regulations aimed at animal welfare, reports Ken Anderson of Brownfield Network. After voter approval of a proposition in California this November, setting new rules for animal confimement, an expert on the livestock industry expert and the animal-rights movement says the latter will seek similar legislation at the federal level.

“They're feeling empowered and emboldened to take very real, immediate steps that would increase the cost of animal agriculture," Wes Jamison, a researcher on the animal rights movement at the University of Florida, tells Anderson. "They see now a method by which they can win at the state level, and they are going to try to translate that to the federal level.”

Jamison said that he believes President-elect Barack Obama would sign amendments to federal animal welfare laws: "[His administration] won’t be proponents for animal welfare, but they’re not going to be opponents." (Read more)

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