I'm sick of politicians. I've had it with them for more reasons that just MO Senate Bill 113 and Prop B, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, but this issue feels like the straw that broke the camel's back.
First Missouri citizens organize a petition drive to place MO Prop B on the election ballot. They succeed. Then Missouri voters pass that same legislation.
That's where the politicians take over because they are quite sure they are smarter than Missouri voters, who, they claim, didn't understand what they were voting on. Various Missouri House of Representative and Senate bills are introduced to repeal or otherwise gut Prop B. Senate Bill 113 gains traction, is passed and sent to the Governor for his signature.
SB 113 guts Prop B. So what... they're just dogs. So what... it's just overturning the will of the people. Right?
Now Governor Nixon claims to have brokered a compromise between all parties involved that includes part of Prop B and parts of SB 113. This proposed legislation will require larger cages with outdoor runs for breeding dogs, access to potable water and annual vet exams. However it no longer limits dog breeders to no more than 50 breeding dogs and gives dog breeders additional time to meet the new housing standards.
This new "compromise" legislation will have to move fast. It's not even been introduced yet, but will have to be approved by May 13. That's when the Missouri legislative session ends. And, of course, if it does not move along quickly enough, that is also when we'll see what stuff Governor Nixon is made of. He'll have to either sign or veto SB 113.
At the same time, proponents of Prop B are threatening to begin again with another ballot initiative campaign - to put Prop B back on the ballot for another vote.
I'm a believer in compromise. This compromise legislation certainly would be an improvement over current Missouri laws and SB 113 in terms of the lives of thousands of commercial breeding dogs being held in this state. However, it is an outright sucker punch to the voters of Missouri.
Democracy? The state constitution? The will of the people? Who needs 'em?! Not the politicians of the great puppy mill capitol, otherwise known as Missouri.
