Voting Records Show Local Lawmakers Support Animal Welfare

The Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) released its annual California Humane Record Scorecard this week, which ranks state senators and assemblymembers on their animal welfare policies.

According to the HSLF, "lawmakers are scored based on their floor votes on bills addressing such issues as animal fighting, microchipping shelter dogs, the road-side sales of animals, vaccinations, shark finning, spaying and neutering, animal cruelty and licensing."

When it comes to those for whom Capitola-Soquel is part of their consituency, animal welfare is clearly a priority. 

There were nine bills concerning animal welfare that Sen. Joe Simitian and Assemblymember Bill Monning voted on in 2011. Seven of those bills were signed into law. The HSLF scored all voters based on the percentage of the bills that on which they voted yes. 

Simitian received an 78 percent score, voting yes on seven bills and abstaining from two. Monning received a 100 percent score, voting yes on all nine of the bills. The average score of all voters was 82. 

See how the voting breaks down in the table below, and reference the informaiton below the table for explanations of each bill.

SB 425: Increases fines for cockfighting
SB 426: Defines repeat animal fighting as nuisance
SB 702: Requires released shelter animals to be microchipped
SB 917: Bans road-side sales and increases animal neglect penalties
AB 258: Allows rabies exemptions for compromised dogs
AB 376: Prohibits the sale of shark fin
AB 564: Re-authorizes income tax check-off for spay/neuter fund
AB 1117: Limits ownership of animals by convicts 
AB 1121: Authorizes puppy provisional licensing

What do you think of our lawmakers' animal welfare voting records? Do you agree with their votes? Tell us in the comments!

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