BigGameHoundsmen.com

FOLKS ~ WHAT HAPPENS HERE WILL BE IN YOUR BACKYARD TOMORROW!!! IF YOU CALL AND THE OFFICE IS CLOSED LEAVE A MESSAGE!!
Irv Corbin
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CA & Non-CA - Please Keep Calling and Faxing the Senators, especially the Democrats

Laura Sanborn relayed her meeting yesterday at the Capitol:


We met with the Chief of Staff of one of the Democratic Senators, and he came right out and told us that he had given a "no vote" recommendation to his boss for the previous version of AB 1634. But he had thought that the August 12 amendments negated the opposition's concerns. Angie & I explained that this is not the case, and why. We made a lot of progress bringing him back to our side. But this is typical of what we face. For the point to really stick, this Chief of Staff made it clear that all of us need to get our updated opposition letters to the Senators.

AB1634 MAY come up for a vote in the Senate as early as Monday 8/18 unless You Flood them with CALLs and Faxes NOW (today and tomorrow) to let them know you Passionately Oppose AB1634. We need to let ALL the Senators know that we REMAIN Overwhelmingly Opposed to AB1634.

AB1634 is running out of time in the Legislature. The deadline for passage is midnight 8/31. The Democratic National Convention will be held in CO from 8/25 - 8/28. That means the Democrats will want to leave Sacramento by next weekend. Levine and Padilla are going to try to get it out of the Senate this coming week rather than risk having the clock run out on them if they waited till after 8/28, IF they can get enough votes.

Your Calls & Letters this Weekend through next week will be Critical for us to keep this nasty bill at bay, if not kill it. Now is when we MUST Hold the Line! So, please Fax and Call - Call Frequently.

Organizations - please fax your letter on letterhead to all 40 Senators if you haven't sent it AFTER 8/14. You can also email your letter to Gail Burnham (below) - Deadline for receipt is 3 PM Sunday. She will make copies and hand deliver to all 40 Senators.

Non-CA Individuals - We know some people suggest that only out-of-state organizations should write all 40 Senators, and Californians should call their own Senators. However, we think that may be a mistake. At this point, the Senators' offices are not going to have time to check addresses and sort through a huge pile of faxes to figure out which ones are from constituents, Californians, and others. It certainly wouldn't be worth their time. We believe the more opposition responses we can log, the better. Especially on Calls. People can call from anywhere in the country. If you're from out-of-state, you can legitimately tell them that you will NOT go to California for any shows, training or other events if AB1634 passes. You can also point out that when you attend out-of-town shows, you spend money on flights, entries, restaurants, hotels, car rental, gas, entertainment, gratuities, gift shops, parking... CA can forget about all that money from you if AB1634 passes. AKC can hold its show in Long Beach all they want, but it's going to be a money loser if few people enter! No need to write if you don't feel like it, but Please CALL the Democratic Senators. If you're a Democrat, please let the Democratic Senators know that Democrats nationwide are watching CA Democrats closely on AB1634 because so far their actions have reflected very badly on the Party.

Californians - Call ALL the Senators, especially the Democrats, and the Governor. Californians can tell the Senators that you won't risk entering shows, etc. if AB1634 passes. CA exhibitors spend a fortune going to CA shows, trials, etc. every year. We go to out-of-town shows (from northern to southern CA or vice versa) and spend similar amounts of money as exhibitors from out of state. California Travel & Tourism is going to suffer a huge blow if AB1634 passes, especially considering there are dog shows or trials just about every weekend, and many on both Sat. and Sun. Don't forget the Republicans though because we don't know if Levine may have used AKC's withdrawal to convince them that we're ok with the bill. So, make a short call to the Republicans and leave your name and number, etc., tell them you're a California voter passionately opposed to AB1634, asking them to please vote no on AB1634.

Another Talking point to remember - As previously mentioned, 2 of AB1634's Sponsors not only dropped their sponsorship, but withdrew their support. American Humane also withdrew its support for AB1634. You may want to make note of these when you call the Senators. These big organizations Withdrew their support for AB1634:
American Humane Association
California State Humane Association (was Bill Sponsor)
California Veterinary Medical Association (was Bill Sponsor)
Hand Delivery to all 40 Senators
Gail Burnham has again offered to hand deliver letters to ALL 40 Senators on Monday morning. However, she'll need to receive your emails by 3 PM Sunday (tomorrow) ==> pgburnham@juno. com

Same guidelines as the last time.


So do fax and email the senators, just send real letters for those of us that don't trust electronics.

I do have a request though. I did a lot of formatting of the last batch of letters to get as many of them as possible onto one page. It took a lot of time, which we don't have this time around. Multiple page letters have to be individually collated. Single page letters can be run as a group.

It would save a lot of time which would let us get more letters in, if you follow the following recommendations:
This time, unless you are an organization like the cat fanciers or please ONLY SEND SINGLE PAGE letters.
Address them to Dear Senator. There isn't time to print each letter 40 times with individual addresses
If you are using a form letter, just tell me which letter it is and send your name and address or a list of names and addresses. I send one of each form letter with lists of signers.
Similarly, If you and five of your friends and neighbors are signing a letter, just send one letter with multiple signers.
Short emails I will cut and paste into a single document. Last time we had 33 pages of individual emails.
Please in the title line say whether it is a One page letter, individual email, organization or form letter.
----
Ken & Patti Burton - Kifka Borzoi
E-mail: Kifka@Kifka. com

CA State Senators & Governor - Tel & Fax Nos.

Capitol Capitol
Senator Tel Fax
------------ --------- ------- ------------ ------------
DEMOCRATS:
Elaine Alquist 916-651-4013 916-324-0283
Ron Calderon 916-651-4030 916-327-8755
Gilbert Cedillo 916-651-4022 916-327-8817
Ellen Corbett 916-651-4010 916-327-2433
Louis Correa 916-651-4034 916-323-2323
Bob Dutton 916-651-4031 916-327-2272
Tom Harman 916-651-4035 916-445-9263
Shiela Kuehl 916-651-4023 916-324-4823
Alan Lowenthal 916-651-4027 916-327-9113
Mike Machado 916-651-4005 916-323-2304
Abel Maldonado 916-651-4015 916-445-8081
Denise Moreno Ducheny 916-651-4040 916-327-3522
Gloria Negrete McLeod 916-651-4032 916-445-0128
Jenny Oropeza 916-651-4028 916-323-6056
Alex Padilla 916-651-4020 916-324-6645
Don Perata 916-651-4009 916-327-1997
Mark Ridley-Thomas 916-651-4026 916-445-8899
Gloria Romero 916-651-4024 916-445-0485
Jack Scott 916-651-4021 916-324-7543
Joseph Simitian 916-651-4011 916-323-4529
Darrell Steinberg 916-651-4006 916-323-2263
Tom Torlakson 916-651-4007 916-445-2527
Edward Vincent 916-651-4025 916-445-3712
Patricia Wiggins 916-651-4002 916-323-6958
Leland Yee 916-651-4008 916-327-2186

REPUBLICANS:
Sam Aanestad 916-651-4004 916-445-7750
Dick Ackerman 916-651-4033 916-445-9754
Roy Ashburn 916-651-4018 916-322-3304
James Battin 916-651-4037 916-327-2187
Dave Cogdill 916-651-4014 916-327-3523
Dave Cox 916-651-4001 916-324-2680
Jeff Denham 916-651-4012 916-445-0773
Dean Florez 916-651-4016 916-327-5989
Dennis Hollingsworth 916-651-4036 916-447-9008
Christine Kehoe 916-651-4039 916-327-2188
Bob Margett 916-651-4029 916-324-0922
Tom McClintock 916-651-4019 916-324-7544
Carole Migden 916-651-4003 916-445-4722
George Runner 916-651-4017 916-445-4662
Mark Wyland 916-651-4038 916-446-7382

Gov. Schwarzenegger 916-445-2841 916-558-3160

California Dog Owners
Hold Off Spay/Neuter Bill



Levine Can’t Get Enough Votes In Senate


By JOHN YATES

American Sporting Dog Alliance

http://www.american sportingdogallia nce.org

asda@csonline. net



SACRAMENTO, CA – Animal rights activists failed to get enough votes in the Senate to pass AB 1634 on Friday, thus probably ending a two-year-long battle by dog owners against legislation that would result in widespread forced pet sterilization.



AB 1634 was called for a vote Friday, and the results were 27-5 in opposition. However, many Democrats abstained, and the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Lloyd Levine and Sen. Alex Padilla, were accorded the courtesy of bringing up the legislation again next week if they think they can muster enough support to pass it.



The Senate adjourned following the vote, so that the Democrats can go to their party’s presidential nominating convention. The Senate will reconvene August 28, and must conclude business by midnight August 31, when the legislative session expires.



Dog owners cannot declare victory until after the session expires, but Senate observers now believe that it is virtually impossible for Levine and Padilla to get enough votes to pass AB 1634.



It would take 21 votes to pass it, and 27 senators voted against it on Friday. There are 41 members of the Senate, and that means nine members abstained or were absent. Those nine members would not be enough to pass the legislation, even if they all voted for it. Moreover, the Senate would have to pass the measure quickly, as the entire assembly would have to vote to concur with several amendments before the August 31 deadline.



For dog owners, it looks very good.



The American Sporting Dog Alliance has staunchly opposed AB 1634 in all of its amended forms. We also have supported several great California organizations that worked very hard to defeat this legislation. This apparent victory shows what can happen when dog owners unite, stand up and be counted.



Winning this battle wasn’t easy, as we were up against every large statewide and national animal rights group. These powerful groups threw many millions of dollars into their effort to force the sterilization of all dogs and cats in California. AB 1634 was the number one priority for animal rights groups, but their money and power weren’t enough to defeat dog owners when we stood our ground and fought back.



The days leading up to Friday’s vote were hectic and confused, with Levine gutting the bill early this week and gaining a pact of non-opposition from the American Kennel Club. AKC’s agreement with Levine drew heavy fire from many other dog owners’ organizations.



Then, late yesterday, Levine reneged on his deal with the AKC and announced plans to change the legislation yet again, in a desperate effort to gain more votes. This violation of trust caused AKC to once again announce its vigorous opposition to the bill. In turn, Levine backed off making any changes today, so that he once again could claim non-opposition from AKC. The version that was voted on in the Senate today was the version that the AKC Board voted not to oppose.



The American Sporting Dog Alliance and most California groups have been unwavering in our opposition to AB 1634.



While this fight has been exhausting, we are asking California dog owners to do one more thing. Please write to as many California state senators as you can and thank them for voting down the legislation today. Also, please ask them to continue to oppose it if Levine attempts to bring it up again in the closing days of the session.



Thank these Senators for Voting NO on AB1634 and please consider voting for them in November:

Voted NO
Phone
Mailing Address

Ellen Corbett (Dem)
916-651-4010
State Capitol, Room 5080, Sacramento, CA 95814

Louis Correa (Dem)
916-651-4034
State Capitol, Room 5100, Sacramento, CA 95814

Denise Moreno Ducheny (Dem)
916-651-4040
State Capitol, Room 3048, Sacramento, CA 95814

Dean Florez (Dem)
916-651-4016
State Capitol, Room 3092, Sacramento, CA 95814

Alan Lowenthal (Dem)
916-651-4027
State Capitol, Room 4062, Sacramento, CA 95814

Carole Migden (Dem)
916-651-4003
State Capitol, Room 2068, Sacramento, CA 95814

Jenny Oropeza (Dem)
916-651-4028
State Capitol, Room 3076, Sacramento, CA 95814

Don Perata (Dem)
916-651-4009
State Capitol, Room 5035, Sacramento, CA 95814

Mark Ridley-Thomas (Dem)
916-651-4026
State Capitol, Room 5094, Sacramento, CA 95814

Gloria Romero (Dem)
916-651-4024
State Capitol, Room 5061, Sacramento, CA 95814

Jack Scott (Dem)
916-651-4021
State Capitol, Room 2052, Sacramento, CA 95814

Joe Simitian (Dem)
916-651-4011
State Capitol, Room 5064, Sacramento, CA 95814

Leland Yee (Dem)
916-651-4008
State Capitol, Room 4038, Sacramento, CA 95814

Sam Aanestad (Rep)
916-651-4004
State Capitol, Room 5108, Sacramento, CA 95814

Dick Ackerman (Rep)
916-651-4033
State Capitol, Room 2032, Sacramento, CA 95814

Roy Ashburn (Rep)
916-651-4018
State Capitol, Room 5066, Sacramento, CA 95814

Dave Cogdill (Rep)
916-651-4014
State Capitol, Room 4082, Sacramento, CA 95814

Dave Cox (Rep)
916-651-4001
State Capitol, Room 3082, Sacramento, CA 95814

Jeff Denham (Rep)
916-651-4012
State Capitol, Room 3070, Sacramento, CA 95814

Bob Dutton (Rep)
916-651-4031
State Capitol, Room 2059, Sacramento, CA 95814

Tom Harman (Rep)
916-651-4035
State Capitol, Room 5114, Sacramento, CA 95814

Dennis Hollingsworth (Rep)
916-651-4036
State Capitol, Room 4074, Sacramento, CA 95814

Abel Maldonado (Rep)
916-651-4015
State Capitol, Room 4032, Sacramento, CA 95814

Bob Margett (Rep)
916-651-4029
State Capitol, Room 205, Sacramento, CA 95814

Tom McClintock (Rep)
916-651-4019
State Capitol, Room 4061, Sacramento, CA 95814

George Runner (Rep)
916-651-4017
State Capitol, Room 313, Sacramento, CA 95814

Mark Wyland (Rep)
916-651-4038
State Capitol, Room 5097, Sacramento, CA 95814



Thank these Senators for Not Supporting AB1634:

Abstained
Phone
Mailing Address

Ron Calderon (Dem)
916-651-4030
State Capitol, Room 2082, Sacramento, CA 95814

Christine Kehoe (Dem)
916-651-4039
State Capitol, Room 2080, Sacramento, CA 95814

Sheila Kuehl (Dem)
916-651-4023
State Capitol, Room 4035, Sacramento, CA 95814

Darrell Steinberg (Dem)
916-651-4006
State Capitol, Room 5050, Sacramento, CA 95814

Patricia Wiggins (Dem)
916-651-4002
State Capitol, Room 5052, Sacramento, CA 95814

James Battin (Rep)
916-651-4037
State Capitol, Room 4081, Sacramento, CA 95814

Gilbert Cedillo (Dem)
916-651-4022
State Capitol, Room 4066, Sacramento, CA 95814

Edward Vincent (Dem)
916-651-4025
State Capitol, Room 4048, Sacramento, CA 95814






Try to change the minds of these senators who voted for the bill, and PLEASE don’t vote for them in the fall election unless they do change their minds:



Elaine Alquist (Dem)
Mike Machado (Dem)
Gloria Negrete McLeod (Dem)
Alex Padilla (Dem)
Tom Torlakson (Dem)



The American Sporting Dog Alliance represents owners, hobby breeders and professionals who work with all breeds of dogs, and especially with a focus on the breeds that are used for hunting. We are a grassroots movement working to protect the rights of dog owners, and to assure that the traditional relationships between dogs and humans maintains its rightful place in American society and life. Please visit us on the web at http://www.american sportingdogallia nce.org. Our email is ASDA@csonline. net. Complete directions to join by mail or online are found at the bottom left of each page.



The American Sporting Dog Alliance also needs your help so that we can continue to work to protect the rights of dog owners. Your membership, participation and support are truly essential to the success of our mission. We are funded solely by the donations of our members, and maintain strict independence.



PLEASE CROSS-POST AND FORWARD THIS REPORT TO YOUR FRIENDS



Have You Joined Yet?
The American Sporting Dog Alliance
http://www.american sportingdogallia nce.org


This is great!! Thanks to anyone who helped!!

Irv

this is Matt Wedgeworth Eddies dad.
I know we don't see eye to eye but thanks for the help.
Matt

Below is a short letter from Bill Hemby of PetPac, describing the moment last Friday at the Capitol before the vote.

WE, I MEAN EVERYONE THAT READS THIS Owe him a great deal of appreciation for his hard work and diligence, as well as his non desire to be suckered into making deals with the enemy!
Bill, just as myself, have been saying all along, "There are no amendments worthy for this bill. It's a BAD BILL and it needs to go away!"
On Friday august 22, 2008 after nearly 2 years of fighting it, IT DID, AND WITH A VENGEANCE!!
I believe PetPac is due both a verbal / written Thank You, as well as a $Money Thank You in the form of donations. Let's show him that CHC people, and EVEN YOU, if you don't belong to CHC but have animals really appreciate his hard work!
Go to the new www.petpac.net website or email Bill @ Billhemby@petpac.net

Victory is sweet! Although often times short-lived. WE ALL KNOW that the likes of the H$U$ and PETA as well as many other anti hunting/animal people are at this very moment licking their wounds and trying to think of something new to bring after us in the near future. WE HAVE TO ALWAYS BE ON OUR GUARD!! WE CAN'T LET THAT UGLY WOLF GET THAT CLOSE AGAIN!
I hope you'll stand watch with me!

Irv



Irv Corbin ~ Rebel Pride Plott Kennels
Home of the "Rebel Pride Plotts"
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Hey Irv et al;


Before the overwhelming vote in opposition to AB 1634, I was hanging out outside of the Senate chambers with Mark Hennelly, CHC, COHA, and Ed Worley, and Paul Payne, NRA. There were about 100 other lobbyists in the hallway too. When AB 1634 came up and Senator Padilla started his speech about the AKC, my cell phone started to blaze. The messages were something like: "DO SOMETHING!!!


As I started to contact senators on the floor, Chris Wagaman, on Senator Correa's staff showed up with the flier off the AKC website. At about the same time another staffer from Senator Dave Cox's office came running up with his copies of the AKC flier. Both said, "you know, as soon as Padilla opened his mouth, our phone lines lit up like crazy".. They assumed the same was happening in every senator's office. Both rushed into the Senate chambers to distribute the fliers. (Lobbyists, by the way, cannot go into those chambers). But, this shows the behind the scenes support we were receiving from senators' staff. There are a lot of dog and cat people working in the capitol.


When Chris came out, she said she spoke directly with Padilla, who told her, "No, the AKC is neutral, this just means they are upset with Levine, not AB 1634." (Wrong!). I remember Senator Lou Correa's comments when he visited with us and Lassie in the hallway a month earlier. Correa: "whats the bill number?" Lassie: "Its AB 1634." Correa; "who's carrying it?" Lassie: "Lloyd Levine". Correa; "oh sh#@ not HIM?" as he walked away with a disgusted look. That was my first clue, Correa might not vote for AB 1634.


I had been saying we needed 6 Democrats, and I counted 10 who I thought might vote "No". My original picks were, of course all 15 of the Republicans, with only Maldonado as a question mark---but not much of one. In the Dem column I picked Correa, Ducheny, Florez, Migden, Oropeza, Scott, Calderon, Kuehl, Steinberg and Yee. Well, as you know I was wrong. We didn't pull 10, We got 13. And we got Calderon, Kuehl and Steinberg to abstain, which were "No" votes.


On the first go around, I think we picked up 5 or 6 Democrats. When Senate pro Tem, Perata and Migdon from San Francisco, voted our way on the first vote, I knew we had this bill beat. But, we had to wait an anxious hour for the vote to be lifted. Senator Padilla was the only Democrat to talk on the bill while on the Republican side, Dutton, Cox and Runner got up to speak against it. I was very pleased with Cox, 'cause I recognized a number of my talking points that he covered. Its always nice to find out they really listen.


During the wait Chris would come out with news; like: "Lowenthal and Simitian are coming off the bill!" As the hour waned, the news kept getting better. Finally, after what turned out to be a very long hour they called for the absentees. Thats when we ended up with 27 ayes and 5 no's.


You cannot imagine the elation and satisfaction I felt at that time. What blew me away were Kehoe not voting and Ridley-Thomas changing his vote from "Aye" to "No." Both had been staunch allies of Lloyd Levine.


Following the vote, I met with Kelley Moran and his two German Shepherd dogs on the North lawn. While we talked Jeff Leacox, the AKC lobbyist came out, so we asked him what gives with AKC? His answer? "There was nothing wrong with AB 1634!" "It would not have harmed breeders!". I asked him what as all about this so-called 12th amendment, but then his phone rang and he mumbeled something and left.


The two NRA lobbyists took Mark and me to lunch to celebrate. There has been some questions about the NRA, but I have to tell you, these guys have been with us from the very beginning and like PetPAC never wavered. The other group are the hunters, especially the California Houndsmen for Conservation. Every time AB 1634 came up in committee a herd of these gentlemen showed up.


From the very beginning I have been saying if we are to defeat the AR's, we will need a coalition made up of all types of dog and cat people. Thats why PetPAC isn't called DogPAC. In a little over a year ago, we started with three of us, and we have grown to 45,000, dog and cat owners and clubs from throughout the breeding, working, police K9, service, hearing impaired, hunting, sporting and non-AKC community, as well as many cat clubs and of course the support of CFA. And before you think this is a PetPAC commercial, Please remember, I have always included the thousands of individual dog and cat people who have fought tooth and nail (forgive the pun) to kill AB 1634.


I even mentioned to the NRA guys, that for 25 years I represented law enforcement officers and unless legislation had something to do with their golf game, I could never field many to help. That is not true with the pet community. I plan to wax eloquently at a later time, but please know I am thrilled to have been working with everyone.


And for the record. let me just tell you, there will be no "good parts of AB 1634" that will survive next session.


Bill Hemby