Ohio's Issue 2: Coming to a State House Near You?

by Martin Matheny · 2010-03-08 08:00:00 UTC
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A month ago, I wrote about the attempt by Ohioans for Humane Farms to change some new anti-animal legislation going down in the Buckeye State. Issue 2, as you might recall, creates a statewide Livestock Care Standards Board composed of political appointees. Understandably, the composition of the Board led to fears that it would be controlled by various factory farm shills more interested in profits than animal welfare.

In an attempt to put a bit of highly necessary restraint on the new Livestock Care Standards Board, animal advocates, led by Ohioans for Humane Farms, have put together new ballot language establishing minimum conditions for treatment of farm animals. They're working overtime to get a referendum on the ballot this November.

The proposed standards would include bans on overly restrictive breeding pens and cages, humane slaughter of "downer cows," and a ban on strangulation as a means of killing animals. It's not visionary reform; it's a basic and necessary level of care. It's a good first step, and an important one, as this battle is rapidly starting to take on national implications.

Now the hard work begins. In order to get this referendum on the ballot in November, Ohioans for Humane Farms needs more than 600,000 signatures. Their ballot drive kicked off Saturday. As I said last month, if you live in Ohio, they're going to need your help. If you don't live in Ohio, you can still pitch in. Just check out their website for more information.

Here's where the national implications kick in. Not surprisingly, the principles behind Issue 2 might be coming to a state legislature near you. It's already happening in Idaho, with a similar bill backed by big agricultural interests. Unlike the case in Ohio, Idaho's measure is voted on by the state legislature, not the electorate.

That's why the stakes in Ohio just got a little more real. Agribusiness scored a big win last November. If they're able to win round two against Ohioians for Humane Farms this year, look for them to feel empowered to pull out these kinds of measures in any state they can.

Stop 'em in Ohio, and we'll give them food for thought (of the healthy, humanely-raised kind, of course) in Idaho and any other state on their radar.

Photo credit: treehouse1977

Martin Matheny is a political consultant and animal welfare writer based in Athens, Georgia.
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