Animal Protection Group Notes She's Been an Impediment on Animal Welfare and Wildlife Protection, Siding with the NRA on Keeping the Ivory Trade Legal and Weakening Protections for Wolves, Bears and Cougars
Washington, D.C. (May 10, 2016) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation's leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, launched an independent expenditure campaign, including television advertising, opposing Val Hoyle for Oregon Secretary of State.
“Voters who care about protecting wildlife and honoring the will of the people should say ‘no’ to Val Hoyle,” said Joe Maxwell, senior political director of the HSLF. “As House majority leader, Hoyle sided with the gun lobby and trophy hunters. We need a Secretary of State who is in step with the majority of Oregonians in supporting animal welfare.”
Last year, Hoyle blocked a vote on a bill that would have stopped the trade in ivory, rhino horn, and the parts of other endangered animals. Washington voters approved a similar measure, over the objections of the National Rifle Association, with a 70 percent “yes” vote, with every county in the state favoring the restrictions on wildlife trafficking. The anti-ivory bill passed the Oregon Senate but died in the House after Hoyle indicated she opposed the bill, telling The Oregonian she was “not going to pick a fight with the NRA.”
Hoyle in prior years also voted to unravel Measure 18, even though voters twice affirmed their support for it, by voting for a proposal to allow counties to opt out of the key provisions of the ban on bear baiting and hounding of bears and cougars. In 2011, Hoyle voted to weaken protections for the state's small population of wolves, who have only recently reclaimed a small portion of their range in Oregon. In 2016, the legislature enacted a bill to affirm the Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission's decision to remove Oregon's small and vulnerable wolf populations from the state endangered species list.
The TV ad can be viewed below:
HSLF has endorsed Richard Devlin for Secretary of State. During his House and Senate terms, Devlin voted to crack down on the ivory trade, captive hunting facilities and puppy mills and opposed efforts to repeal the state’s ban on hound hunting of mountain lions and to unwind protections for the state’s small population of wolves.
Media Contact: Stephanie Twining, stwining@hslf.org, 301-258-1491
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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.
