Depressing TB Times article

[safehorses]

This could be trouble...

Slaughter opponents take U.S. Agriculture Secretary to task

In a strongly-worded letter to United States Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns on December 7, the four Congressman leading the battle to end horse slaughter in the U.S. for human consumption overseas expressed concern that the Department of Agriculture may attempt to circumvent federal legislation which will strip federal funding for USDA meat inspectors at the three remaining horse slaughterhouses in the U.S. and at the Canadian and Mexican borders.

The rest can be read here:

www.thoroughbredtimes.com/todaysnews/newsview.asp?recno=59473&subsec=1

[luvmytbs]

Since the USDA is a governmental department, I doubt that their services can be offfered to a "private party" for pay.

That's like asking a judge to moonlight with the government's consent.

I could be wrong, but that would be my logical assumption. Even though we know government is far from logical.

[safehorses]

I'm hoping that this is just a shot across the bow from the anti slaughter group. I guess we'll know more when the secretary replies, but if they don't like his reply, I hope the secretary is ready for the deluge of letters, emails, phone calls, etc that will be headed his way.

[cardicorgi]

That article didn't give any information about what precipitated this [bipartisan!! miracle of miracles] letter. Wonder what they know? Or, maybe you're correct, Safe - a little preemptive activity...

[tatesmom]

The 120 day grace period bothers me, thats BUSH for you.