From Patti Strand, NAIA. (Note: while I and many, many others do not agree that "attempting to fix the bill" was the course to take, others attempted it in order to address Levine's contention that no group wanted to help the problem. He and his group,of course, ignored any attempts to input ideas. Stormy) AB 1634 Amended in the Eleventh Hour More Info Time for a Proper Burial! August 6, 2008 AB 1634 is on its way to the Senate floor and is eligible for a vote as early as tomorrow, therefore we urgently ask that you call your senator today and request their NO VOTE on this bill! After a year and a half of various unsuccessful attempts to pass AB 1634, Assembly Member Lloyd Levine has amended his bill yet again. What was originally a mandatory spay/neuter bill that stood no chance of passing, is now virtually unrecognizable after being amended ten times. He may opt to amend the bill yet again on the Senate floor, which would delay the vote, so we will continue to closely monitor the process and keep you updated on any developments. It's time for California pet owners and legislators to finally tell Levine "enough is enough!"Click here to locate your senator's phone number and place this very important call. The latest version of AB 1634 is still flawed in significant ways and will do nothing to reduce the fiscal impact attached to a bill that amounts to an unfunded mandate for local governments. In fact the Governor's office reviewed and agreed with our analysis of the fiscal impact this legislation would have under the Hayden Act. As a result, the State Department of Finance has issued a statement opposing AB 1634 . When you contact your Senator, emphasize that the amendments do nothing to fix this flawed bill and that the sponsors have chosen to send it to the floor (without a proper hearing in Appropriations) at a time when other more important issues could be taken up, most notably the budget. NAIA, and other groups that advocate for pets and pet owners, have repeatedly offered to provide input on ways to solve the complex problems the bill seeks to address, but our advice has been ignored. Instead, the sponsors have continued to offer last minute amendments that consistently fail to resolve core concerns driving the opposition. Which begs the question: what is this legislation really attempting to do? If the goal is to force California pet owners to sterilize their pets, they have clearly failed and should move on. If the goal is to distract lawmakers from the budget, he has succeeded. But if the goal is to pass a bill - any bill - with the number AB 1634, then Levine might just be on the right track. Will it lower shelter numbers and euthanasia rates? Will it increase the number of people who license their pets? Will it foster responsible pet ownership in the community? The answer to all of these questions is, sadly, no. Please take a moment today to call your Senator and ask them to do the right thing for pets and pet owners and VOTE NO on AB 1634! ************** Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/cars-BMW-128-2008/expert-review?ncid=aolaut00050000000017 ) ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================