Missouri Puppy Miller Nabs Congressional Seat in Landslide

Jason Smith, 32 year old Republican and native of Salem, Missouri, served as a member of the Missouri House Representatives since 2005.  On June 6, 2013, Smith was elected to the US Congress in what has been called a landslide victory.  In the special election for the vacant 8th Congressional district, Smith led his opponent 2 to 1.

Smith promoted his ties to agriculture throughout the campaign and in the most recent House session was successful in getting a resolution passed that will place a "Right to Farm" constitutional amendment before voters next year.

Opponents of the proposal have attempted to portray the measure as backlash from Smith over a proposition voters passed in 2010 known as the "Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act," which placed stricter rules on dog breeders. 

Smith's family has a history in the dog breeding business. His mother's kennel was named by the Humane Society of the United States as one of the state's "worst puppy mills in Missouri" in a 2011 report, and Smith faced accusations of conflicts of interest when he spoke against the proposition. Smith has said his proposed amendment is to protect the rights of farmers.

In fact, Jason Smith was once listed in Missouri state records as a co-owner of Mary Ann Smith's Kennel operation, and has been an outspoken opponent of many animal welfare legislative bills.

As written, the "Right to Farm" resolution would have rolled back the cockfighting prohibition, jeopardized the new puppy mill law, prevented future ballot initiatives on animal welfare issues, and endangered regulations on factory farms.

Thankfully, this resolution was amended to protect existing animal welfare laws, protect the right to conduct ballot initiatives on animal welfare issues and protect the right to regulate factory farms.