Wednesday, March 3, 2010

New York voter? Does the Humane Society of the United States speak for YOU?

As the world's largest, wealthiest animal extremist multi-national corporation prepares to march on Albany, Empire State Animal Alliance asks. . .

Does the Humane Society of the United States speak for you?

Revered Supreme Court Justice
Louis Brandeis was fond of reminding the public that "sunlight is the best disinfectant."

And as the Humane Society of the United States charters buses to import its volunteer lobbyists to Albany in furtherance of HSUS's radical agenda, inconvenient truths about HSUS and its activities continue to surface.

Setting aside--just for the moment. . .

. . .the federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) lawsuit launched against HSUS and the ASPCA on February 16, 2010

and the. . .

. . . 4,000+ requests for an IRS investigation generated so far by the "Spay and Neuter the HSUS" grassroots campaign to revoke HSUS's tax-exempt, charitable designation due to excessive lobbying activities. . .

(Note to New York legislators: Do you REALLY want to listen to an organization involved in a RICO suit that is simultaneously under scrutiny for tax fraud? An organization that, despite its name, gives less than one half of one percent of its $100 million budget to hands-on pet shelters?)

. . .it's time to look a little more closely at HSUS's activities in Albany.

HSUS does not "attempt to influence national, state or local regulation"? Really?

On page 17 of HSUS's 2007 IRS Form 990, HSUS asserts that it did not attempt to influence state regulation. Not through the activities of its volunteers, and not through the activities of paid staff.

Yet documents made available to the public by the New York State Commission on Public Integrity show that HSUS paid Dora Schomberg nearly $40,000 to lobby on its behalf in 2007.

In fact, Wayne Pacelle's letter to the NY State lobbying commission confirms the arrangement. The commission database holds several such letters. The most recent one covers 2009 - 2010, during which time Schomberg will be paid $81,240.64 by the Humane Society of the United States for lobbying.

$2,500/month for John E. Sweeney

In 2007 HSUS also contracted with (now disgraced) former U. S. Congressman John E. Sweeney. Sweeney is currently serving 30 days on a DWI conviction, having weathered spousal abuse accusations and a federal influence peddling investigation.

Sweeney's responsibilities under the contract with HSUS (page 1 at link above) were described as (emphasis added):

--Administrative support and agency implementation of HSUS programs and lobbying support for humane legislation in New York State.

--Strategic advice on equine issues.

--Assistance with strategies in dealing with the White House . . . ."

Commencing in 2008, HSUS also pays the Albany law firm of Featherstonhaugh, Wiley and Clyne for its services. The 2009 contract calls for FWC to be paid $20,000 for lobbying:

Consultant shall lobby and assist The HSUS with strategy and efforts to advance legislation. . . .

The Empire State Animal Alliance questions how all of this activity, and all of these expenses, can be covered by the use of funds collected from compassionate donors who mistakenly thought their money would be used to shelter animals. HSUS not only advised the IRS that neither its employees nor its volunteers "attempt to influence national, state or local regulation," but also appears to simultaneously violate its own articles of incorporation when its employees and volunteers lobby in Albany.

Radical changes to pet and animal ownership in New York

HumaneWatch.org thinks HSUS should do much better for needy pets and livestock. So do we.

Instead of using its enormous wealth to shelter homeless animals, HSUS will be lobbying hard in favor of Assemblywoman Amy Paulin's proposal to criminalize the ownership of healthy, happy dogs and cats. Paulin's proposal --outlawing pet ownership based only on the number of animals present, and not on the level of care provided--is a radical departure from any previous regulation of animal ownership.

Under the terms of A7285, having "too many" dogs or cats would be grounds for seizure -- and pre-trial, permanent forfeiture. Under existing state law, impounding organizations can sell off, or even kill, forfeited animals.

Masquerading as a "puppymill" remedy, Paulin's proposal offers no new protections for animals. It simply provides a new excuse for removing pets from their owners: "too many" animals present.

Transparency in government

The Humane Society of the United States agenda does not reflect the needs and values of New York voters. Compassionate New York voters believe that "humane societies" should devote a significant portion of charitable donations to caring for animals in need, and not squander it on Albany lobbyists.

New Yorkers reject pre-trial sentencing of defendants through pre-adjudication forfeiture provisions.
Like Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, we believe in transparency in government.

Which New York legislators are most influenced by the Humane Society of the United States ?

Empire State Animal Alliance's Animal Extremist Watch List identified the Albany office holders most committed to the radical agenda.

Please take a minute and email the three elected officials who have most strongly allied themselves with an animal extremist agenda that does not reflect the values of New York voters.

Assemblywoman Amy Paulin: paulina@assembly.state.ny.us

Assemblywoman Deborah Glick: glickd@assembly.state.ny.us

Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal: rosentl@assembly.state.ny.us

Does the Humane Society of the United States speak for you?

Empire State Animal Alliance volunteers will be polling candidates for public office this November, soliciting their opinions on a range of topics. Our goal is to identify and endorse candidates who understand and support the responsible and humane ownership of pets, work companions and livestock. Candidates with views supporting animal rights extremism will be identified. If you or your organization can help us canvass the candidates, please contact us at ESAAVolunteer@live.com

5 comments:

  1. Empire State Animal AllianceMarch 4, 2010 at 8:13 PM

    and what about Patrick Kwan, HSUS's "other" employee in NY. . .so far not mentioned in any submissions to the NYS lobbying commission

    Patrick continues to twitter

    "Join me next week in Utica http://bit.ly/uca030810 + Syracuse http://bit.ly/syr030910 for lobbying for animals workshops!
    3:04 PM Mar 1st via web"

    http://twitter.com/heypatrick

    Is Kwan a lobbyist that HSUS "forgot" to report to both the State of NY AND the IRS?

    ReplyDelete
  2. While I am not a NY voter, but since you are talking about an international organization, I feel that I can post and answer your question. That answer is a firm, unequivocal no. And, I think they do not speak for most people who know anything about animals and animal care.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mary Verbeck PomeroyMarch 10, 2010 at 8:07 AM

    What do you think about the closing of the SPCA Shelter in Yonkers? The agency was opened 50 years aago - had 16 officers authorized to conduct searches and make arrests..........HOWEVER in 50 years it never conducted one(1) operation.
    Mary Verbeck Pomery
    PS I read this in the Oneonta Star,Oneonta,NY this morning

    ReplyDelete
  4. Empire State Animal AllianceMarch 10, 2010 at 3:48 PM

    news coverage on the Yonkers SPCA -- closed down by the NY Attorney General -- here:

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/03/09/2010-03-09_sham_humane_society_shuttered__outed_as_front_for_staffers_to_score_guns__badges.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mary Verbeck PomeroyMarch 10, 2010 at 8:14 PM

    NEXT.........HSUS is supposed to have a 'legislative day' March 24th in Albany.........How can we spike the guns? OK so I live in a town with 4 streets.....BUT I vote.
    Mary Verbeck Pomeroy

    ReplyDelete