Senate scraps governor's changes to slaughter bill

HELENA – The Senate voted 44-5 today to reject the Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s amendments to a bill that would create legal protections for companies who want to build horse slaughter plants in Montana.

The governor’s amendments to House Bill 418, sponsored by Rep. Edward Butcher, R-Winifred, stripped away special legal protections for the slaughter plant owners.

Butcher and other supporters have argued that Americans needing to dispose of horses have to go to Mexico or Canada because legal challenges have effectively shut down the American horse slaughter industry.

Horse slaughterhouses are not currently banned in Montana, but they would almost certainly draw protests from animal lovers who oppose them.

In his veto message, Schweitzer said horse owners need “access to a legal method to put their horses down as necessary and appropriate – due to age, infirmity, or other legitimate circumstances.”

However, such facilities should not receive the “unnecessary and potentially harmful special treatment that would be granted to one particular industry under this bill.”

Since Schweitzer’s amendments have now been rejected by both the House and Senate, the original bill will go to the governor’s desk to be signed into law or vetoed.

Sarah Elliot, the governor’s communication director, said in an e-mail that Schweitzer has yet to decided what he will do with the bill.

“While the Governor supports a horse slaughter facility being built in Montana, he is still concerned for the public’s health and safety as a result of provisions in the bill,” Elliot said.

-by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy

House rejects governor's advice on slaughter bill

HELENA – The House voted 59-41 Wednesday to reject Gov. Brian Schweitzer’s amendments to a bill that would provide legal protection for companies who want build horse slaughter plants in Montana.

Schweitzer used his amendatory veto power to strip special legal protections from House Bill 418, sponsored by Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred.

Butcher and other supporters have argued in long, emotional hearings that Americans needing to dispose of horses have to go to Mexico or Canada because legal challenges have effectively shut down the horse slaughter industry in the U.S.

Horse slaughterhouses are not currently banned in Montana, but they would almost certainly draw protests from animal lovers who have testified against the bill so far.

In his veto message, Schweitzer said horse owners need “access to a legal method to put their horses down as necessary and appropriate – due to age, infirmity, or other legitimate circumstances.”

However, such facilities should not receive the “unnecessary and potentially harmful special treatment that would be granted to one particular industry under this bill.”

During the House floor session on Wednesday, Butcher said the bill is “really of no value” without the stripped provisions, and they are necessary because they “provide protection for investors.”

Rep. Anders Blewett, D-Great Falls, said though he thinks Montana could use some horse slaughter plants, this bill is the wrong way to promote them.

“This bill is not about slaughtering horses,” Blewett said. “(It’s about) disemboweling the environmental laws in Montana.”

The bill now goes to the Senate. If senators reject Schweitzer's amendments as well, it goes back to the governor who may veto or sign it.

-by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy

'Special treatment' cut from horse slaughter bill

If investors want to establish a horse slaughter industry in Montana, they will have to do it without special protection from legal challenges and lawsuits, Gov. Brian Schweitzer (pictured) said late last week.

Schweitzer used his amendatory veto power to strip special legal protections from House Bill 418, sponsored by Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred.

Butcher and other supporters have argued in long, emotional hearings that Americans needing to dispose of horses have to go to Mexico or Canada because legal challenges have effectively shut down the horse slaughter industry in the U.S.

Horse slaughterhouses are not currently banned in Montana, but they would almost certainly draw protests from animal lovers who have testified against the bill so far.

In his veto message, Schweitzer said horse owners need “access to a legal method to put their horses down as necessary and appropriate – due to age, infirmity, or other legitimate circumstances.”

However, such facilities should not receive the “unnecessary and potentially harmful special treatment that would be granted to one particular industry under this bill.”

The bill passed the House by a vote of 66-33 and passed the Senate 27-23.

Horse-slaughter bill clears first Senate hurdle

HELENA – The Senate voted 27-23 to give initial approval to a bill that would give future horse slaughterhouses and processing plants in Montana protection from court injunctions seeking to stop them.

House Bill 418, carried by Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish, would allow privately owned horse slaughterhouses in Montana and protect them from legal challenges to the plant’s license. This means a court could not order an injunction against a facility once construction has begun.

The bill also requires that anyone challenging a slaughterhouse post a bond worth 20 percent of the construction costs or the value of the existing facility.

After passing the House 66-33, HB 418 was quickly voted through the Senate Agriculture Committee and onto the Senate floor.

The bill’s hearings have been long, emotional debates between farmers, ranchers and horse lovers. Senators said they have received hundreds of letters and phone calls from constituents on the issue.

Zinke said the bill is based on the traditional Montana viewpoint that horses are livestock and should have as much purpose in death as they did in life. Opponents view horses as treasured pets and pieces of Montana’s heritage.

“We have to decide as Montanans which viewpoint will go forth,” Zinke said.

He said horses that are old, too broken to ride, and too expensive to feed would be sent to the plants.

“I don’t say ‘equine processing plant,’” Zinke said. “I’m saying exactly what it is – it’s a slaughterhouse for horses.”

Supporters said not all horses will meet their end in a slaughterhouse because owners will have the choice.

“Give people that want to do it the opportunity,” Sen. Don Steinbeisser, R-Sidney, said.

Other supporters said the slaughterhouses would create job opportunities in Montana’s struggling economy.

But opponents asked why the state should give horse slaughterhouses protection from court injunctions when no other business receives such treatment.

“Doing business with risk is part of the game,” said Sen. Dave Wanzenried, D-Missoula.

Zinke said the businesses need special treatment to persuade them to build such plants, which can cost as much as $3 million.

-by CNS correspondent Molly Priddy