Hi everyone,
Wow what an amazing week this has been !! I know that the news of
our delay in passing SB 1921 is most difficult, but let us realize, just how
much has truly been accomplished.
Seven (7) weeks ago there was not even a bill drafted that would end this
travesty. In this very, very short period of time, the things that we have
accomplished are nothing short of amazing.
In 7 weeks our bill has gained an overwhelming amount of support by the Illinois
legislators.
We HAVE enough votes to pass this bill through the House of Representatives. We
HAVE the majority that is needed to do this!!! There is a difference in
passing a bill in a VETO session. In a veto session you have to have a higher
percentage of votes than in a "regular assembly" You need approximately
60%. I do not know why, all I know is that is the way it is. In a
regular session, you only need to pass by 1 Vote.
WE HAD AND STILL HAVE enough "votes" to pass, even in the veto
session.
The unfortunate and tragic loss of Dave Wirsing, the representative from my
district and Cavel's, has only delayed the inevitable. This law will be passed
in Illinois.
Although Mr. Wirsing was on the opposite side of our issue, he has
done many great things for this district. He was a very well respected
legislator, loving family man, and had worked hard for the people of Dekalb and
Sycamore.
To delay this legislation was the only fair way to afford Mr. Wirsing's friends
and colleagues at the state house time to mourn their loss, and pay
tribute to a man they clearly, love and respect. It was the proper thing to do.
Now, to tell you a little about what we learned in Springfield. We have
the votes we need, this is evidenced by the roll call of votes of support.
We have 60% Democratic supporters and 40% Republican. Bob Molaro was completely
shocked by this split. We only need a few
republican votes when the bill is called for a vote in January. In the
veto session we would have needed something like 23. We have 20 committed
Republicans. For this amount of support on this bill to have been
generated in only 7 weeks with no paid lobbyists working on this full time, is
simply unheard of. This shows what a truly amazing TEAM EFFORT from all of
us has accomplished. It also shows that the legislators in Illinois are
appalled at the concept
of horse slaughter in Illinois. Many were as the majority of Americans
still are, unaware that this had been going on in our state. Once made aware,
and educated to the facts, they clearly support this legislation.
In just 7 weeks we garnered enough support to successfully get our bill passed
out of committee. We didn't just barely pass, it passed 7- 3-1. That
is HUGE!!! Carole Pankau who voted "present" out of her duty to Mr.
Wirsing, will be a yes, next time around. We learned that not only are our
efforts reaching these legislators, but the general public is reaching out as
well. While in Molaro's office I read hundreds of letters from all over
Illinois that did not come from our board. There were hundreds of signatures
on a petition of support from a Law School in Chicago. Dozens of letters
from outraged non horsey people, and only 1 letter in the stack of 100's was
against this legislation. You would think that Bob Molaro as the initiator
of this legislation would have received many negative letters. Well, he
hasn't. We have been able to keep our effort in the media almost non stop for 7
weeks, this is incredible.!!
This is why we are receiving such tremendous support from all over Illinois.
Bob Molaro made a comment Tuesday evening that i need to share with you.
He said that he was amazed at what we had accomplished in such a short period of
time, and with no money to do it. He said that SB 1921 making it out of
committee, "was the talk of the State House".
He was very, very proud of all of us, for all that we have done. He is just as
disappointed as we are that we could not move forward with the bill, as he felt
that we would have done the "unheard of" by passing a bill in a VETO
session. We had the support, and we still
will have the support and much, much more come January.
I want to tell you all how truly incredible each and every one of you are. Your
efforts have been nothing short of Herculean!! When we needed anything you
were there. We needed renderers, you gave us renderers, we needed calls and
faxes, you gave us calls and faxes,
when we needed a document, you produced the document!!!! WE ARE AN AMAZING
TEAM!!! WE ARE A STRONG TEAM!! WE ARE A FOCUSED TEAM !!! WE
ARE A WINNING TEAM!!!
I can never express to you all how very honored I am to know you and to be a
part of such an incredible group of people. You all, each and every one of
you, are truly the most dedicated, determined and devoted people I have ever had
the good fortune to know. I cannot
begin to thank you for all that you have done !!
Have to go for now, but I will post more later, in respect to our plan for the
coming weeks. Many Many thanks!! Love and prayers to all!!!