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October 24, 2006

Animal Welfare Group Says Wilson is Too Extreme for New Mexico Values

ALBUQUERQUE —Today, the Humane Society Legislative Fund launched a radio ad campaign in Albuquerque, educating voters in New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District about U.S. Representative Heather Wilson’s cruel and shameful record on animal welfare issues.

“Heather Wilson is too extreme and is out of touch with New Mexico values,” said Richard Patch, political director of Humane Society Legislative Fund. “She supports horse slaughter for the French, believes trophy hunters should shoot bears over piles of grease and jelly doughnuts, and refuses to crack down on barbaric dogfighting and cockfighting. These aren’t New Mexico values, and it’s time for a change.”

HSLF points out that Representative Wilson provided strong support on one animal protection bill, but has abandoned animal welfare advocates in many of the tough fights in Congress, including:

• Animal Fighting: She is one of a small band of lawmakers who have refused to co-sponsor legislation to strengthen penalties for illegal dogfighting and cockfighting activities. Apparently, she has sided with the cockfighters in New Mexico, one of two states where this barbaric practice remains legal.
• Horse Slaughter: She cast her vote four times in the 109th Congress alone to continue the slaughter of tens of thousands of American horses for food exports to France, Belgium, and other countries. She has put the interests of foreign gourmands above the interests of Americans who love horses.  Fortunately, the House voted overwhelmingly to ban horse slaughter, overriding Wilson’s support for killing horses for export.
• Downer Livestock: She voted to continue the sale of sick and injured farm animals who are dragged to slaughter with ropes, chains, bulldozers, and forklifts. These so-called “downer” livestock pose a greater risk of “mad cow disease” and other threats to our food supply.
• Enforcement of Animal Welfare Laws: She has refused to support active efforts to fund the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, and federal animal fighting law.
• Yellowstone Bison: She voted in favor of killing American bison in Yellowstone National Park.
• Dolphin Protection: She opposed legislation to protect dolphins from drowning in deadly tuna fishing nets.
• Predator Control: She cast her vote twice to support taxpayer funding for government agents to kill coyotes and other predators with cruel traps, poisons, explosives, and aerial gunning, as a subsidy for private ranchers.
• Bear Baiting: She voted to allow the unsporting and dangerous trophy hunting of bears over piles of food on our federal lands, even though the practice is prohibited during New Mexico’s bear hunting season.

HSLF points out that Patricia Madrid is the humane alternative to Heather Wilson. As attorney general, Madrid earned recognition among the New Mexico humane community for her work on a number of animal welfare issues. In 2004, Animal Protection of New Mexico, a statewide animal protection organization, honored Madrid with the “Milagro Executive Director’s Award” for her active role in providing stronger legal protections for animals and her dedication of resources to ensure that funds meant as a permanent trust for chimpanzees used in federally funded animal experimentation were not mismanaged by a private foundation. She also fought for laws to make animal cruelty a felony offense in New Mexico, and has been a strong opponent of the state’s gruesome and barbaric cockfighting industry.

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue. A complete list of HSLF’s endorsements is available online at www.humanevoting.com.

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Humane 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. Contributions or gifts to 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. On the web at www.fund.org.