Michael Markarian: Animals & Politics

A Perfect Storm for Farm Animals

It’s been an exciting week for farm animal protection in America. On Sunday, more than one thousand animal advocates in 43 states gathered at our Party Animals events around the country to rally for laws to protect animals from the worst abuses of industrial factory farming. I participated in a nationwide conference call with partygoers to talk about the Humane Society Legislative Fund’s work to promote farm animal welfare, and I was joined on the call by the fantastic U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who is a stalwart advocate for animals in Congress. She is the chairwoman of the important House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, and has been one of the leading voices for passing the Downed Animal and Food Safety Protection Act, the Food Safety Recall Information Act, and other important policy reforms.

Congresswoman DeLauro spoke eloquently about the “perfect storm” surrounding The Humane Society of the United States’ recent investigation into the slaughter of crippled cows, and how it “crystallized the inhumane treatment of animals, the violation of the downer cow policy and downer cows becoming part of the food chain, and the potential for tainted beef making its way into the school lunch program.” She urged listeners to join the National Call-In Day for Downed Animals this Thursday. “Make your voices heard. Make this issue a national priority,” she implored. “My colleagues in the Congress listen to what their constituents say. You have to make sure that they hear you.”

Also joining us on the call was “Brian,” the HSUS undercover investigator who worked for six weeks at the slaughter plant and exposed the horrific practices that led to the largest meat recall in U.S. history. His voice was disguised to protect his identity, and it was a riveting and dramatic moment, straight out of “60 Minutes.” Brian told a story about his last day of work at the plant, when he saw a pregnant cow who literally gave birth on her way to slaughter. Despite her attempts to care for her calf, she was separated from her newborn and slaughtered. Brian had captured so many terrible images, and he knew it was time to show the world.

But it’s not just downer cows getting attention. The Party Animals events and the nationwide call to action came just days after national news on scientific innovations that may some day allow meat to be grown in laboratories, potentially reducing the suffering of billions of farm animals, environmental pollution, and public health impacts. "The New York Times" took the opportunity to comment in an editorial on the current state of factory farming in America, and the paper of record held no punches:

We are disgusted by the conventional meat industry in this country, which raises animals—especially chicken and pigs—in inhumane confinement systems that cause significant environmental damage. There is every reason to change the way meat is produced, to make it more ethical, more humane…Ensure the least possible cruelty to animals, by all means, and raise them in ways that are both ethical and environmentally sound.

And that’s not all the news that’s fit to print. This morning, at a press conference in Washington, D.C., the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production released a path-breaking report after two and a half years of studying the problems of factory farming. The commission is made up of prominent individuals such as former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman, Colorado State University professor Bernie Rollin, and University of Tennessee Veterinary School Dean Michael Blackwell.  Among the commission’s findings are that factory farms jeopardize animal welfare, public health, food safety, and the quality of life in rural communities. They have issued a series of recommendations, including an end to the use of gestation crates for pigs, veal crates for calves, and battery cages for egg-laying hens.

The commission report will surely lead to policy initiatives to change laws for farm animals and change the way agribusiness operates in this country, and your Humane Society Legislative Fund will be on the front lines. In fact, several efforts are already underway which are directly in line with the commission’s recommendations, including the California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on the state’s November general election ballot. Californians will have the opportunity to end one of the worst abuses in industrial factory farming—confining animals in tiny crates and cages so small they don’t even have enough room to turn around and stretch their limbs for nearly their entire lives. 

Tethering veal calves by the neck, forcing pigs to squeeze inside tight metal bars, cramming five or six birds into a wire cage the size of the front page of “The New York Times”—it’s not just animal advocates who say these practices are cruel and unacceptable. It’s time for the perfect storm surrounding farm animal welfare to result in meaningful social change for these creatures.

The Golden State's Golden Opportunity

Last week, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act for November’s general election, setting the stage for this year’s biggest ballot box battle on animal protection. Thanks to 4,000 California volunteers who gathered  hundreds of thousands of signatures, voters in the Golden State will have the opportunity to stop cruel and inhumane treatment of animals on industrial factory farms.

The measure's certification made news in diverse media outlets from the Sacramento Bee to the Los Angeles Times’ new “Unleashed” blog. It also stirred up the agribusiness giants. As Donald Lathbury wrote on the political website California Majority Report, “The opposition, dominated by large scale factory farm conglomerates, is willing to burn a lot of money to prevent this proposition from passing. Don’t be fooled by what is certain to be a massive misinformation campaign by the No side.”

Despite the misinformation sure to come, the question that will confront voters is relatively simple: Should animals be given basic humane treatment, or should they spend nearly their entire lives in cages so small they can’t even turn around and stretch their limbs? Veal calves are chained by the neck, pigs are kept in metal cages barely larger than their bodies, hens have less space than a letter-sized sheet of paper. Voting "Yes" on the measure will help protect animals from such extreme abuse.

It will help us, too, as industrial factory farms also put our health at risk. The recent Humane Society of the United States investigation of a California slaughter plant exposed the cruel treatment of cows that threatened the safety of food fed to schoolchildren and led to the largest meat recall in U.S. history. The agribusiness industry put profits ahead of the health of people, and certainly ahead of the wellbeing of animals.

Caging animals in high densities leads to more animal waste and air and water pollution, as well as risk of disease transmission such as salmonella. Cramming hundreds of thousands of animals into a single factory is like putting all the residents of Fresno or Oakland into a high school gym, without a bathroom, and waiting for someone to sneeze.

We can do better—and many farmers are. Because it is not a California tradition to confine farm animals in tiny cages for their whole lives, the passage of this initiative will protect California’s family farming heritage. Family farmers know food quality is enhanced by more humane farming methods, and supporting this measure helps them compete and survive.

And while you’re likely to hear about food prices, these modest reforms won’t be costly to implement. The egg industry’s own California-based poultry economist (see page four) reports that producing cage-free eggs costs less than one penny per egg more. According to California’s Legislative Analyst, the fiscal impact of this initiative is limited to minor costs that will be offset by revenue from fines. 

Join the fight to protect animals from cruelty and abuse, and find out more from Californians for Humane Farms. Help spread the word, and tell your friends and family who live in California to vote "Yes" for the humane treatment of animals this November.

Humane Scorecard is a Powerful Tool

After the Humane Society Legislative Fund published its new Humane Scorecard a couple weeks ago, bloggers ranging from the Baltimore Sun’s Mutts to Dogster’s For the Love of Dog Blog have commented on this resource that rates members of Congress on animal protection issues.

But a tool is only as good as the person who wields it. The scorecard is designed to help you assess the performance of your federal lawmakers, determine whether they are representing your interests, and communicate with their offices. I hope you will not only study the scorecard, but also will take action after you do.

First, find out who represents you in Congress, and then, review their scores for 2007. If your legislators had high marks, it’s important to call and thank them, and let them know you appreciate that they are standing up for animals. If they did poorly, let them know you are watching and you expect them to do better in 2008. Mention specific animal protection measures that you want them to co-sponsor and support.

You can call the Congressional switchboard at (202) 225-3121 to ask for your representative’s and senators’ offices. You can also send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper praising or criticizing your lawmakers for their ratings on animal issues, and spread the word to your friends and family.

Finally, Congress is on spring recess for the last two weeks of March, so be sure to find out if your legislator is holding a town hall meeting or open office hours in your district. It’s a great opportunity to visit him or her in person, with the Humane Scorecard in hand, and deliver the powerful message that constituents care about public policies to protect animals from cruelty and abuse.

Email me and let me know how you are using the Humane Scorecard, and I may publish your comments on the blog.

Save the Date to Party with a Purpose on April 27

One of our principles at the Humane Society Legislative Fund is community engagement. We know we can’t accomplish legislative or electoral reforms just by having a professional staff in Washington, D.C.—we need the active participation of thousands of people who care about animals all over the country. That’s why we created our Party Animals program, and I hope you will join me as we party to support farm animal welfare on April 27! You can host or attend a party in your community, and join me and our special guests live to hear about legislation to help farm animals on the nationwide conference call at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Party Animals brings people together on one night at the same time for a party with a purpose. In the past, we’ve held successful Party Animals events on topics such as animal fighting, ending the slaughter of Canada’s seals, elections and ballot initiatives, protecting pets in disasters, and horse slaughter. Now, in the wake of the massive beef recall and investigation into the slaughter of crippled cows, and in the run-up to a statewide vote in California to ban the cruel confinement of 20 million animals on industrial factory farms, our focus is farm animal protection.

Political candidates have used simple yet effective house parties to raise awareness and mobilize armies of volunteers and donors for their campaigns, and we aim to apply that same strategy to advance the cause of animal protection. Using tools provided by HSLF, party hosts create their own website, establish a fundraising goal, send invitations to friends and family, and collect donations through a secure website. Campaign, lobbying and video materials are provided. It’s fun and easy and it brings people together to stand up for animals.

I asked a couple super hosts—Bryan and Carla Wilson from Winter Park, Fla., who have participated in every Party Animals event—what they thought about the experience. Here’s what these hosts with the most had to say:

Party Animals events are literally A PARTY for the animals! Where else can you get informed about important legislation that affects animals while having an awesome time?! As animal advocates we must stay on top of important legislation that affects animals. Party Animals not only educates, but also raises funds for the HSLF while having a party! Who could ask for a better way to spend an evening?! —Carla

What’s great is seeing that crossover moment. Party attendees come in as people who care about animals, and leave as empowered animal advocates capable of making change! At one of our last parties an advocate whom I never met came up and thanked us for hosting the event. She couldn’t wait until Monday morning to call her representative and talk to him about the animal issues on her mind. She had fun and turned it into a positive action for animals. —Bryan

To join the fun, sign up to host your own event at the Party Animals website. I hope you will be there with Carla, Bryan, me, and thousands of other animal advocates from coast to coast.

Be a Citizen Lobbyist

Next Wednesday, lawmakers at 23 state capitols will get a visit from animal advocates.  Thousands of citizens across the country who care about animal protection will participate in our 2008 Humane Lobby Day, and will ask their own legislators to support bills dealing with dogfighting, pets in disasters, Internet hunting, fur labeling, and other important policy reforms. Click here to see if your state is on the list, and RSVP to join me and other animal advocates for this important day of action on February 13.

With Humane Lobby Day just around the corner, I thought I would offer some thoughts on how to be an effective citizen lobbyist for animals. You don’t have to be a hired-gun, smooth-talking lobbyist or know all the answers in order to participate in the legislative process. You are a constituent who cares about the issue, and your elected officials care what you think! Whether you’re making a phone call or visiting them in person to make your case, there are a few basic rules that apply. Here are some tips.

Identify yourself.  Whether you’re calling to register your opinion, or visiting a legislative office in person, start by telling them who you are. Make sure to tell them where you live so they know you’re a constituent. (Typically, you only contact your own legislators, unless it’s a special circumstance such as a committee chairman.) And let them know if you represent an organization or other stakeholders—such as teachers, sheriffs, or veterinarians—who have an interest in the issue.

Be polite and professional. This is common sense, but always worth repeating. You can state your views firmly and forcefully without being hostile or argumentative. Always be friendly and courteous, even if the legislator disagrees with your position. Don’t interrupt or scream out at legislative hearings. And while it’s important to be professional, it’s also important to look professional—legislators and their staff are more likely to be persuaded by people in business attire than people wearing cut-off jeans and flip-flops.

State a clear and concise objective. Stay focused on the purpose of your phone call or meeting, and don’t wander off in too many directions. Let them know up front what you are asking them to do, and refer to bills by their numbers and names—such as, “I want Representative Smith to co-sponsor H.R. 891, the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act.” Be sure to explain any jargon that might be unclear, such as “canned hunts,” “pound seizure,” or “Class B dealers.” It’s OK to bring up more than one bill in a meeting, but you may want to limit your list to two or three bills that are most important to you.

Explain why this issue is important to you personally. Lawmakers are interested in data and statistics, but they’re much more interested in how an issue affects their constituents personally. If you have a story to tell, it’s much more compelling than charts and graphs. If you’re talking about dogfighting, you might be an animal control or animal shelter worker who has seen injured pit bulls and the toll dogfighting has taken on your community. If you’re advocating for antifreeze legislation, it might be because you had a dog who was poisoned by drinking the sweet-tasting liquid. If you’re a teacher or parent, you might comment on the impact animal cruelty has on children. Tell your story.

Don’t use form letters. Legislators want to know what you have to say, not just that you can cut and paste. They know when it’s a form letter, period. It’s OK to use talking points and language from advocacy groups like The HSUS and HSLF when you craft your letters, but it’s best to put them into your own words.

Use the web and email effectively. Visit legislators’ official web sites before your meetings, so you can learn in advance about their background, biographical information, positions on issues, and even their pets. If you send email through advocacy web sites such as humanesociety.org and hslf.org, remember to edit that part of the letter that allows you to put it into your own words. You can also send email and register comments through the legislator’s own web site. Phone calls are usually taken more seriously by legislative offices, so if you do send email, you can still follow up with a phone call, too.

Never lie or mislead. The truth for animals is harsh enough, and you don’t need to embellish. If you make up facts and figures or stretch the truth, it will always come back to haunt you. Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know the answer to a question, and offer to look it up for them later or put them in touch with someone who might know. You’re not expected to be an expert on every issue—you are a citizen who cares and has an opinion.

Work with legislative staff. Don’t be offended if you can’t get the legislator on the phone or get a meeting with him or her personally. Lawmakers rely on their staff to meet with constituents, draft legislation, learn the issues, and make policy recommendations. The staff will have more time to get to know you and your issues, and they are your gateway to the elected officials. Get to know the staff and develop relationships, so they will begin to view you as a source of reliable information on animal issues in your community.

Be prepared to compromise. Legislators may not do what you want 100 percent of the time, but they can still help advance the cause of animal protection. If you discuss three bills and they agree to support two, you’ve made progress. Don’t expect complete orthodoxy. A legislator might agree to vote for a bill when it comes to the floor, but doesn’t want to be a co-sponsor for political reasons—a vote in the hand is better than two co-sponsorships in the bush.

Listen to elected officials’ comments and questions. Don’t expect to give a monologue on animal protection. Let them react to the issues you raise, and have a conversation. Their comments and questions will give you cues on how to frame your arguments and what additional information might be useful. If they ask questions or need more information, it gives you an opportunity to follow up with them after your meeting.

Thank someone who was helpful. Always thank a staff member who took the time to meet with you, and follow up with any additional information that’s needed. And if a legislator does what you’ve requested, such as co-sponsor or vote for a bill, be sure to thank him or her for taking that action. Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to develop a good relationship for future issues.

If you have additional tips on how to be an effective citizen lobbyist, please send them to me and I may publish them on the blog. 

Weigh In with HSLF's Online Straw Poll

Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nevada have weighed in, but the race to the White House is still wide open for both Democrats and Republicans.  A number of states will be making their party nominations in the coming weeks, including more than 20 states on “Super Tuesday,” February 5th.

But you don’t have to wait to register your opinion.  The Humane Society Legislative Fund wants to know which presidential candidate you support.  Please visit hslf.org and vote in our online straw poll today.

I’ve been writing in this blog about where the presidential candidates stand on animal protection issues, and about the role that animal advocates can play in the presidential race.  The candidates need to hear from you that the humane treatment of animals is an important policy issue.  And we want to hear from you, too, so we know which candidate appeals the most to animal advocates.

Take our Straw Poll » Donate to our Victory for Animals in 2008 Campaign »

After you vote in our poll, please consider making a special donation to our “Victory for Animals in 2008” campaign.  In addition to helping us support our other programs, your contribution may be used to support humane candidates for state and federal office.

The presidential race is not the only election that matters for animals this year.  The Humane Society Legislative Fund will work to reelect leaders for the humane treatment of animals in Congress, and defeat candidates who are enemies of animal protection. 

We are also fighting to pass animal protection laws to stop puppy mills, horse slaughter, and other cruelties at the state and federal levels.  And we’re working to pass landmark ballot initiatives to stop cruel dog racing in Massachusetts and end the worst factory farming abuses in California.

Please help us continue our critical efforts to pass humane laws and elect humane lawmakers.  And please tell your friends who care about animals to vote in our online poll, so we can hear from them, too.

Speak Out for Animals this Primary Season

New Hampshire’s somewhat surprising presidential primary results Tuesday—with Hillary Clinton and John McCain emerging as victors—have thrown the races wide open.

On the Republican side, it’s still anybody’s ballgame.  Any one of four or five candidates can emerge and secure the nomination, including Mike Huckabee, who has the worst record on animal protection. 

In advance of last night’s outcome, the pundits were suggesting that the Democratic race looked like it would go to Barack Obama.  But Clinton’s upset win has recalibrated that equation.  John Edwards is also still in the race, and cannot entirely be counted out. 

Now, there’s no doubt that races for each party’s nomination will be competitive for several more weeks, almost certainly through “Super Tuesday” on February 5, when more than 20 states hold contests.

Animal protection advocates should take advantage of this opportunity, and query the candidates on their stands on animal issues.  You should call their campaign offices in the states and ask where they stand if they have not already staked out positions.  Let them know that the humane treatment of animals is an important policy issue.  You can inject animal protection into the presidential debate, and let the candidates and the media know it’s important to voters of all political stripes.

The Washington Post reported that on Monday, the day before New Hampshire’s primary, a voter at the Nashua Rotary Club asked Mitt Romney what he would do as president to combat the overpopulation of pets.  He didn’t have much of a substantive answer, but it was probably the first time he thought about animal issues on the campaign trail.

Hearing from voters who care about animal protection will send the message that it’s not just good policy, but also good politics.

'Lobbying' is Not a Dirty Word

When I travel around the country and visit animal shelters and rescue organizations, I see first-hand the fantastic work that these groups do in their communities: animal adoptions, spaying and neutering, humane education, anti-cruelty law enforcement, and much more. But when I ask if local groups are involved in lobbying efforts to protect animals, I often hear the same response: “But we’re a nonprofit charity and we’re not allowed to lobby!”

It’s a common misperception, but it’s not true. Charitable groups can and should advocate for public policy changes. Gary D. Bass, executive director of OMB Watch, says that there is a long tradition of charitable advocacy and civic participation in this country: “Nonprofit lobbyists have been involved in nearly every major public policy accomplishment in this country—from civil rights to environmental protection to health care,” he told the Washington Post. “Tens of thousands of lives have been saved by passing laws that improve car safety and reduce drunk driving.”

Animal protection groups have also made major progress through lobbying. In fact, animal shelter and rescue groups can offer resources and expertise to lawmakers, and are often the best judges of how public policies could help address problems in their communities. Would a spay and neuter bill reduce the number of unwanted pets euthanized in local shelters? Is dogfighting on the rise and are tougher penalties needed? Would restrictions on the private ownership of exotic wildlife make the community safer?

Nonprofit groups can make the case to lawmakers on these issues, but there are limits on how much lobbying they can do. Any animal protection group that is going to be involved in lobbying should consult its own attorneys and accountants. But in general, most animal protection groups are registered under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code, meaning that the groups are tax-exempt and their donors receive a tax deduction; in exchange, the groups have to abide by rules and caps governing their advocacy work.

Any 501(c)(3) charity can advocate for or against legislation at the federal, state, or local level, but lobbying must not be a substantial part of the group’s activities or must not exceed a set expenditure cap. The group can also advocate for or against issues on the ballot, which could include gathering signatures for a ballot initiative, informing its members about the proposal, or donating directly to a ballot committee. There is a strict prohibition, however, on 501(c)(3) groups advocating for or against the election of individual lawmakers, or donating to political candidates.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund was organized as a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization, so it operates under different guidelines. It has no limit on its lobbying activity, and can engage in some advocacy in candidate elections. Other types of groups such as 527s and Political Action Committees follow different rules. But none of this diminishes the importance of 501(c)(3) nonprofit charities exercising their rights to advocate for legislative reforms to the extent allowable.

The Alliance for Justice offers plenty of resources for charities, foundations, and others on understanding the lobbying rules and restrictions. And once you know that you can lobby, there are other resources such as the AdVocacy Guru which can help teach you how to lobby effectively.

But keep in mind, when you hear the word “lobbying,” it’s not just Jack Abramoff and abuses of the system that should come to mind. Advocating for public policy reforms is not only allowed, it’s part of our civic duty.

Welcome To 'Animals & Politics'

In May, my colleague Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, launched a new blog called “A Humane Nation.” I questioned whether he would really have the time to write a blog, given his hectic travel schedule and all his other duties for The HSUS.  But, he proved me wrong, and for the past seven months has been posting original entries every weekday, and that keeps HSUS members and staff up to date and up to speed on the fast-changing issues the humane movement confronts. By my count, he posted nearly 200 personal entries already, and it’s a chronicle of the The HSUS’s progress and challenges.

So here I am, inspired to start my own blog for the Humane Society Legislative Fund. I won’t attempt to blog daily, as Wayne does, but I do promise to keep it timely and relevant, and to offer two or three items each week. You may ask yourself why we need another blog, and believe me, I’ve asked myself the same question.  But I’m convinced that it’s worth my time, and I hope it’s worth some of your time, too.

That’s because HSLF has a unique and critical role to play in the animal protection movement—a legislative and political role. We are one of the few humane groups that can spend considerable resources passing state and federal laws for animals, winning ballot measure campaigns to stop cruel practices, and helping to elect humane candidates and defeat lawmakers who oppose animal welfare.  We aim to usher in a whole new era of legislative and political advocacy for animals. 

In the last couple years, we went head-to-head with the NRA in Michigan—one of the biggest hunting states in the country—and we defeated a measure that would have allowed a target shooting season on mourning doves.  We went head-to-head with the agribusiness industry in Arizona, and we passed a measure banning the cruel confinement of animals on industrial factory farms.  We passed bills in Congress to crack down on dogfighting and cockfighting, protect pets in disasters, and shut down a trophy hunting tax scam.  We passed laws that will finally end cockfighting in Louisiana and New Mexico, the last two states where it was legal.  We waged campaigns against some of the worst members of Congress—like Richard Pombo and Conrad Burns—and helped send these ultra-hostile lawmakers packing.   

But this coming year will be even bigger.  We have major battles in Congress to stop horse slaughter, puppy mills, and other abuses.  The humane movement will wage perhaps one of the biggest fights in recent times—statewide ballot campaigns to ban veal crates for calves, gestation crates for breeding pigs, and battery cages for egg-laying hens in two of the biggest agricultural states in the country, which could impact the lives of 4 million animals in Colorado and 20 million animals in California. And over the next few months, we will see state primaries and caucuses narrowing the field in what could be one of the most exciting presidential elections in years. All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, a third of the seats in the U.S. Senate, and hundreds of seats in state legislatures and governor’s mansions will be decided.

In this blog, I will aim to keep you updated on these efforts, and give you an insider’s look into the legislative and political processes. I hope to profile the lawmakers and advocates who are doing good work for animals, and challenge those who are harming animals. I will offer commentary on what’s happening in the news, what’s happening in Congress and state legislatures, and what’s happening on the ballot.  I welcome your comments, and hope that you’ll join the conversation.