Assemblyman Furutani Votes "No," Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal Doesn't Vote...And SB250 (Pet Responsibility Act) Supported By City of LB/City Council Fails By Wide Margin In Assembly; Another Vote Scheduled
(Sept. 9, 2009) -- In a showdown vote on the Assembly floor, Assemblyman Warren Furutani (D., Carson-LB) voted "no" and Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal (D., LB) declined to vote -- and with 11 other Assemblymembers effectively blocked passage -- on SB 250, the "Pet Responsibility Act" that would restrict ownership of unsterilzed dogs and cats and require surgical sterilization of intact animals in specified circumstances.
The measure is backed by the City of LB (on Council vote) and a number number of local animal advocacy groups.
The measure is fiercely opposed by the American Kennel Club, show-dog/show-cat fanciers and breeder interests.
The measure failed passage by a wide margin -- 28 to 42 -- with 41 "yes" votes needed for passage.
Reconsideration was granted...meaning supporters need to change 13 Assemblymembers votes from no to yes to pass SB250.
The floor vote was as follows:
MEASURE: SB 250
AUTHOR: Florez
TOPIC: Dogs and cats: spaying and neutering.
DATE: 09/08/2009
LOCATION: ASM. FLOOR
MOTION: SB 250 Florez Senate Third Reading By BLUMENFIELD
(AYES 28. NOES 42.) (FAIL)
AYES
****
Ammiano Arambula Beall Blumenfield
Brownley Carter Coto De La Torre
De Leon Eng Feuer Fong
Fuentes Hayashi Hernandez Hill
Huffman Jones Krekorian Lieu
Mendoza Nava Portantino Ruskin
Solorio Torlakson Torrico Bass
NOES
****
Anderson Tom Berryhill Blakeslee Block
Buchanan Caballero Charles Calderon Chesbro
Conway Davis DeVore Duvall
Emmerson Evans Fletcher Fuller
Furutani Gaines Garrick Gilmore
Hagman Harkey Huber Jeffries
Knight Logue Miller Nestande
Niello Nielsen John A. Perez V. Manuel Perez
Salas Silva Skinner Smyth
Audra Strickland Swanson Torres Tran
Villines Yamada
ABSENT, ABSTAINING, OR NOT VOTING
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Adams Bill Berryhill Cook Galgiani
Hall Bonnie Lowenthal Ma Monning
Saldana Vacancy
In a mass emailing, the AKC thanked and congratulated "all the fanciers, concerned dog owners, breeders, federations and clubs who worked to defeat this legislation. While the battle is not yet over, it is clear that the educational efforts have paid off and that legislators have seen that SB 250 will negatively impact responsible owners and will not improve animal control in California."
Supporter Judy Mancuso emailed, "We have 24 hours to change 13 of the [no votes or abstaining/not voting votes to yes]If ever there has been an SB 250 email to respond to with calls and to forward to other animal lovers, this is the one.
We can do this, we have changed minds in the past. Many of these members cast their initial vote based on misinformation from the opposition to the bill, and can be changed if we can clarify for them how critical it is to pass SB 250. The members who vote YES on SB 250 understand how important it is that we finally take action at the state level to address the tragic pet overpopulation problem in our state."
To view the Assembly floor Legislative Analysis of SB 250 as amended, click here. To view the bill as amended, click here.
