Non-Partisan Animal Welfare Organization Endorses a Democrat and a Republican for Pennsylvania Statewide Offices
WASHINGTON (Nov. 1, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announces its endorsement of one Democrat and one Republican seeking statewide offices in Pennsylvania -- Kathleen Kane for Attorney General and John Maher for Auditor General. Citing both candidates strong support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges Pennsylvania voters to support these two candidates for their respective statewide races.
The Democratic nominee for Attorney General, Kathleen Kane has pledged to make consumer protection a priority and that includes enforcement of the Dog Purchaser Protection Act, also known as the "Puppy Lemon Law." While an Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County she has prosecuted many animal cruelty cases and pledges to continue to do so as Attorney General. She believes we need to be humane to animals because it reflects how we treat other people in the community.
Kane will be a strong voice for animals. She has committed to protecting them and consumers by:
- Vowing to continue to fight for consumer protection and enforce the Puppy Lemon Law
- Bringing experience as a prosecutor of many animal cruelty cases while Asst. D.A. in Lackawanna County
- Urging support for a stronger state anti-cruelty statute
HSLF has also endorsed State Rep. John Maher in his quest to become Auditor General. “John Maher has been a leader in the state legislature on animal protection issues, and we know he’ll do all he can to help animals as Auditor General,” said Sara Amundson, executive director of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He has a track record of getting things done, and we could not be more grateful for his focus on fighting animal cruelty.”
Rep. Maher has a consistent record of supporting anti-cruelty bills since his first day in office, and he is the House Chair of the Pennsylvania House Animal Protection Caucus. Earlier this year, Maher was named "Humane Legislator of the Year.” Among his efforts, Maher has:
- Introduced and passed HB2630, to end the use of gas chambers to euthanize dogs and cats at animal shelters in Pennsylvania, making Pennsylvania the 21st state in the country to ban them. Gov. Corbett recently signed the legislation
- Co-sponsored HB 2525, to protect dogs and crack down on large-scale puppy mill abuses in Pennsylvania, making it, at the time, one of the strongest dog protection laws in the country
- Co-sponsored and led efforts to end cruel live pigeon shoots for over a decade
- Voted to support HB2150, giving a $300 tax credit for anyone adopting a dog or cat from a shelter
“If we are going to see humane policies to protect animals from cruelty, we need elected officials who care about them,” added Amundson. “We hope humane-minded voters will support Kane and Maher on November 6.”
Media contact: Heather Sullivan, (301) 548-7778, hsullivan@hslf.org
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HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.
The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.
Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 455, Washington, DC 20037.
