Governor Bill Haslam Veto’s Controversial Agricultural Bill
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MADISON COUNTY, Tenn.- Animal rights groups are praising Governor Bill Haslam for vetoing the controversial bill that would have required investigators into animal cruelty to turn over their footage within 48 hours. “It was a big victory for animals in Tennessee, a big victory. We look at it as a victory for us but it’s really a victory for the animals,” said Melissa Floyd, of Redemption Road Rescue. Governor Haslam said he is vetoing the House Bill 1191 after careful consideration because it appeared to be constitutionally suspect. Haslam urged the state legislature to reconsider the measure. “I have a number of concerns. First, the Attorney General says the law is constitutionally suspect. Second, it appears to repeal parts of the Tennessee’s Shield Law without saying so. If that is the case, it should say so. Third, there are concerns from some district attorneys that the act actually makes it more difficult to prosecute animal cruelty cases, which would be an unintended consequence,” said Gov. Haslam. Animal protective groups who strongly opposed the bill told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News that this is just a small victory in an uphill battle. “I was shocked a bill like that would get past both houses even on a close margin and it wouldn’t even get killed in committee that’s pretty scary,” said animal rescuer Sarah Kidd. “It was not going to stop abuse it was going to cover abusers up.” The bill would have required anyone with documented evidence of animal abuse to turn it over to police within 48 hours.Rescuers said if passed, it would have prevented rescue groups from conducting long term undercover investigations of animal abuse. “If it’s turned over too quickly you can’t establish a history, you can’t show a pattern so from an investigative standpoint law enforcement agencies were going to be really hindered in building a case because you’d be dealing out your cards too quickly,” said Kidd. An online petition calling for a veto gathered more than 34,000 signatures. Haslam’s office received more than 5,000 phone calls and 16,000 emails on the bill, most of them expressing opposition. “I hope this sends a signal to the people putting the bill up that people in Tennessee are not going to stand for this,” said Floyd. This veto is only the second during Haslam’s two and a half years in office. Non -profit rescue, Redemption Road Rescue told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News that they have launched more than 60 animal abuse investigations across West Tennessee so far this year.
