http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2009/02/25/news/doc4...4a493f0396807811.txt

Illinois lawmakers may overturn horse slaughter ban

By Kurt Erickson
kurt.erickson@lee.net

SPRINGFIELD -- Nearly two years after banning the slaughter of horses for human consumption, Illinois lawmakers Tuesday revived the issue, saying the fate of unwanted horses is now even more uncertain.

On an 11-2 vote, the House agriculture committee approved legislation to overturn the ban, which was aimed at shutting down the nation’s only horse slaughtering plant in DeKalb.

The measure faces an uncertain fate as it moves through the legislative process.

When the ban was imposed in 2007 — following a visit from horse activist and ’70s sex symbol Bo Derek — the Senate sponsor of the legislation was John Cullerton, D-Chicago. Cullerton is now president of the Senate.

State Rep. Jim Sacia, R-Pecatonica, who is sponsoring the repeal, said the lack of a market for unwanted horses has led people to either let the animals starve, turn them loose or ship them to foreign countries where their treatment might be less humane than at the plant in DeKalb.

“The need for the humane termination of livestock is very, very evident,” said Sacia, who owns nine horses.

“We need to find some middle ground,” added state Rep. Dan Reitz, D-Steeleville.

The legislation is House Bill 583.

http://www.rrstar.com/news/x617066758/Horse-slaughter-bill-passes-committee

Horse-slaughter bill passes committee

SPRINGFIELD — A measure to repeal the two-year-old ban on horse slaughtering for human consumption in Illinois is gaining some momentum in the state Legislature.

The House Agriculture and Conservation Committee voted 11-2 Tuesday for House Bill 583, pushed by Republican Rep. Jim Sacia of Pecatonica, to lift the ban. The measure now moves to the full House.

Sacia's veterinarian, Dr. Tim Strathman, testified before the committee in favor of repealing the ban. To appease animal-rights groups, Strathman proposed adding a tax on horses at slaughter plants to Sacia's measure. He said a $25 fee on horses payable to the state could then be turned over to horse organizations to fund nonslaughter alternatives.

Former Rep. Bob Molaro, D-Chicago, testified against repealing the ban that he had pushed for successfully two years ago. He said Strathman's tax proposal does not address his concern that slaughtering horses always is inhumane.

"I just don't understand how we can tell these pets who have served and worked for us, 'We're going to slaughter you so Europeans can eat you,'" Molaro said.

Supporters of the slaughter ban consider the vote a setback, but remain optimistic.

"We're very disappointed by the vote, but we hope to have a better result on the (House) floor," said Jordan Matyas, the Illinois state director of the Humane Society of the United States.

The very thought of this just sickens me .You wont believe how aweful it is down south .The law enforcement just turns thier back and the state will not come in unless the sheriffs office calls them in which they wont so the suffering continues.

Good news -- the Illinois House of Representatives rejected this measure.

http://www.connecttristates.co...story.aspx?id=281413

House rejects permitting horse slaughter
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 at 1:55 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- The Illinois House has rejected a push to overturn the state's ban on slaughtering horses for meat.

Lawmakers approved the ban two years ago to shut down a slaughter house in DeKalb. But critics say it had the unintended consequence of increasing cruelty to horses.

They say that without an affordable way to dispose of unwanted horses, some owners are neglecting or even abandoning their animals. Other owners are sending horses to Mexico, where they may not be slaughtered in a humane way.

The legislation would have allowed horses to be slaughtered in Illinois so they could be sold as food overseas.

The measure was failing 50-67 Wednesday when the sponsor halted the vote.