State rep holds her horse bill
Sponsor changes course on $25 fee for licensing
By Margot Sanger-Katz
Monitor staff
January 28, 2009 - 12:00 am
Facing a flurry of opposition to her proposal to require licensing of horses, Rep. Carla Skinder rescinded her support for the bill yesterday, according to people who saw her speak.
Skinder's bill, which was discussed at the House Local and Regulated Revenues Committee yesterday, called for a $25 licensing fee for each horse in the state along with proof that the animal had been vaccinated for rabies. Skinder, a Democrat from Cornish, said Monday that the bill was designed to improve the health of the state's horses and to give some money to towns and the state that might help protect equine health.
But the bill met with sharp opposition from organized horse groups, many of whom wrote letters, sent e-mails and placed phone calls to legislators. Organizers said Monday that more than 100 people would attend yesterday's meeting, but Skinder put out an e-mail at 6:30 yesterday morning forecasting her reversal so angry horse owners would not have to make the trip to Concord. [read the rest here]
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