Houston Democrats

Anyone wishing to read the text of these two bills can go to the Texas Legislature online at http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/

or for HB 1962 go directly to
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=79&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=01962&VERSION=1&TYPE=B

and for HB 1963 go directly to
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/cgi-bin/tlo/textframe.cmd?LEG=79&SESS=R&CHAMBER=H&BILLTYPE=B&BILLSUFFIX=01963&VERSION=1&TYPE=B

Surprisingly, these bills are being introduced by State Representative Quintanilla - a Democrat. William Galbraith of MAD contacted Representative Quintanilla to find out why he is sponsoring these bills. He reports on the phone call:

I spoke to Representative Quintanilla this afternoon about the bill he is sponsoring that would REDUCE Animal Abuse Cruelty ( beating, torturing, starving ) from a Felony to a Misdemeanor... Talk about someone being arrogant and belligerent, WOW !!! this guy is "world class" obnoxious !! He claims that 80 % of the people in his district support his pro Animal Abuse bill and has had only about 15 people have voiced any opposition statewide. He also told me that we were both "Macho" and I corrected him saying people who participated in and supported Animal Abuse are not "Macho", but in fact, Cowards.. call him... he's a real piece of work !! tel. 512 463-0613 (Austin) 915 859-3111 (El Paso office)

Here are some folks you can email to protest this outrage:

Representative Quintanilla: chente.quintanilla@house.state.tx.us
El Paso Newspaper: opinion@elpasotimes.com tomfenton@elpasoinc.com
Humane Society: Bgonzales@HumaneSocietyElPaso.com
Animal Rescue RehabRanch@hotmail.com
T.V. news@ktsm.com kvia@kvia.com bwatkins@kdbc.com
Democratic Party: mlavigne@txdemocrats.org

RESOLUTION AGAINST CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
PASSED BY THE MEMBERSHIP OF
MONTROSE AREA DEMOCRATS

WHEREAS: Montrose Area Democrats was founded by citizens to promote a just society and to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods, our city, our state and our nation; and

WHEREAS: It is universally recognized that a sense of responsibility and empathy towards other creatures is a necessary component of a just society and a decent quality of life; and

WHEREAS: Those who commit cruelty to animals or permit animal cruelty are themselves degraded by doing so; and

WHEREAS: The laws of the State of Texas are already insufficient to protect animals from cruelty; and

WHEREAS: Two bills currently before the Texas State Legislature, HB 1962 and HB 1963, would, if passed, further reduce the penalties for cruelty to animals and send the message that Texas sanctions inhumane practices; and

WHEREAS: Animal rights organizations, humane societies and ordinary citizens throughout Texas are outraged by and opposed to these odious bills;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the membership of Montrose Area Democrats vehemently opposes the passage of any measure that would reduce penalties for cruelty to animals, and specifically strongly opposes passage of HB 1962 and HB 1963, and further urges all Texans to help defeat these measures and to work toward strengthening existing laws against animal cruelty.

Unanimously passed in full meeting March 22, 2005