Christie Vetoes Pig Gestation Legislation
Calling the legislation a “solution in search of a problem,” Governor Chris Christie vetoed S998 today, legislation that would have outlawed pigs being inhumanely crated while gestating.
“It is a political movement masquerading and substantive policy,” Christie said in his veto message.
Christie stated that the practice is not occurring in New Jersey and compared the bill that another he vetoed…a bill banning hydraulic fracking in New Jersey when there is no frackable shale in the State.
“I urge the Legislature to stop using their law making authority to play politics with issues that do not exist in our State,” Christie wrote, “We have significant issues to deal with; I urge them to get to work on those issues and stop following misguided partisans and special interests who want to use the the law making process as a political cudgel on issues outside our borders.”
Christie noted that he vetoed almost identical legislation “sponsored by the same partisan politicians.” At that time, both the Board of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture found that the legislation was unnecessary and ill-advised.
The crates that would have been outlawed by the bill are so small that that pigs can’t turn around in them. The are not used on New Jersey pig farms, but they are said to be used widely in Iowa, home of the first 2016 presidential caucus.
In 1995 the Legislature directed the state’s agricultural experts to develop and adopt standards for the humane raising, keeping, care and treatment of all types of domestic livestock.
“These Humane Standards have put New Jersey at the vanguard of protecting domestic livestock from animal cruelty,” Christie said.
The New Jersey Supreme Court, in upholding the majority of these standards, observed that the Agriculture Department “took seriously its charge to consider all aspects of … the welfare of domestic livestock.”
S998 passed in the Senate last February, 32-1, with 7 Senators not voting. Of the Monmouth County delegation, Senators Jennifer Beck, Robert Singer and Sam Thompson voted yes. Senator Joe Kyrillos did not vote.
The bill passed the Assembly in October, 53-13 with 5 Assembly Members not voting and 9 abstaining. Of the Monmouth County delegation, Assembly members Mary Pat Angelini, Sean Kean, Declan O’Scanlon and Declan O’Scanlon voted no. Assembly Members Caroline Casagrande, Rob Clifton, Amy Handlin voted yes. Assemblyman Ron Dancer abstained.
Christie’s veto message can be found here.
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We still have pig farms in New Jersey. This law would make it applicable to those existing farms, and any new farms that may come into existence.
Besides, the real test is to our Republican legislators who voted for this bill. Lets see who will vote to override this veto if it should come to that.
Just the first, inconsequential step towards the 2016 campaign; on an issue that is low on the totem pole