From the American Cervid Alliance Newsroom
18pxOpponents of Deer Farming, Private Property Rights in Missouri Legislature Lose Re-elections
JEFFERSON CITY- After a much anticipated election night in Missouri and across the United States, the Missouri Deer Association is celebrating the results of local state legislative races. For most of 2014, deer farmers visiting with state legislators explained that their regulatory oversight would be better handled by the Missouri Department of Agriculture rather than the Missouri Department of Conservation. Though a legislative bill supported by deer farmers passed overwhelmingly by state lawmakers, there were a handful of critical representatives that totally ignored the science. Several of these critics will not be returning to the legislature next session.
Two deer bills were passed by a high margin of votes this past session and sent to Governor Jay Nixons’ desk. Governor Jay Nixon vetoed the two bills, despite the fact they contained much needed language important to Missouri’s agriculture groups. During the veto session in September, the bill had enough votes in the Senate for the veto override but fell one vote short in the House of Representatives.
Representative Jeff Roorda became known as the legislator that changed his vote at the last second, which caused the veto to fail in the final House vote. Rep. Paul Wieland, a republican, defeated state representative Roorda in a bid for the state senate. Deer farmers, who were convinced by Roorda that he would support the veto override, felt betrayed by his actions in the eleventh hour of the session. Missouri Deer Association president Kurt Humphrey said "deer farmers supported his opponent financially. We do not need anyone in the Senate that cannot see the facts in front of their face. Over twenty agriculture groups endorsed the bill and he (Roorda) voted against it. No excuse.�
Representatives TJ McKenna and Vicki Englund, both democrats, also became outspoken opponents of deer farmers and their private property rights. They also lost their re-election bids.
The Missouri Deer Association has not announced any particular legislation ideas for next session. Missouri’s 2015 legislative session begins January 7th.
18pxOpponents of Deer Farming, Private Property Rights in Missouri Legislature Lose Re-elections
JEFFERSON CITY- After a much anticipated election night in Missouri and across the United States, the Missouri Deer Association is celebrating the results of local state legislative races. For most of 2014, deer farmers visiting with state legislators explained that their regulatory oversight would be better handled by the Missouri Department of Agriculture rather than the Missouri Department of Conservation. Though a legislative bill supported by deer farmers passed overwhelmingly by state lawmakers, there were a handful of critical representatives that totally ignored the science. Several of these critics will not be returning to the legislature next session.
Two deer bills were passed by a high margin of votes this past session and sent to Governor Jay Nixons’ desk. Governor Jay Nixon vetoed the two bills, despite the fact they contained much needed language important to Missouri’s agriculture groups. During the veto session in September, the bill had enough votes in the Senate for the veto override but fell one vote short in the House of Representatives.
Representative Jeff Roorda became known as the legislator that changed his vote at the last second, which caused the veto to fail in the final House vote. Rep. Paul Wieland, a republican, defeated state representative Roorda in a bid for the state senate. Deer farmers, who were convinced by Roorda that he would support the veto override, felt betrayed by his actions in the eleventh hour of the session. Missouri Deer Association president Kurt Humphrey said "deer farmers supported his opponent financially. We do not need anyone in the Senate that cannot see the facts in front of their face. Over twenty agriculture groups endorsed the bill and he (Roorda) voted against it. No excuse.�
Representatives TJ McKenna and Vicki Englund, both democrats, also became outspoken opponents of deer farmers and their private property rights. They also lost their re-election bids.
The Missouri Deer Association has not announced any particular legislation ideas for next session. Missouri’s 2015 legislative session begins January 7th.
