In this loosley disguised "HorseSlaughterPac," you will "meet the money" behind the campaigns to keep horse slaughter going; this is what we are up against in Congress.
Message from the president
March 11, 2008
Horse PAC enjoyed its widest support in 2007. With receipts of $347,604 in 2007, Horse PAC ended the year with $490,793 in cash on hand. A record 221 NTRA members contributed to the PAC this year. We thank them for their constancy and support.
The Horse PAC Board also welcomed four new Directors during 2007: George B. Bolton, Marc W. Dunbar, Robert S. Evans and J. Kenneth Luke, bringing the total number of directors to 18 for 2007. Horse PAC may have up to 25 Board members.
Horse PAC disbursements in 2007 were $294,500, a record for a non-election year. The PAC supported 10 of the "freshmen" Members elected at the start of the 2006/2007 Congressional cycle and in all, supported 84 individual candidates from 34 states.
The PAC’s most important determinant for giving remains a candidate’s Committee membership. Horse PAC’s support was spread across key committees that oversee the pari-mutuel horse racing and breeding industries, including Agriculture, Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, Finance, Homeland Security and Judiciary.
Reaffirming Horse PAC’s mission to support only Federal political candidates and parties at the Congressional level, the Board of Directors in 2007 unanimously passed a resolution barring Horse PAC contributions to United States Presidential candidates.
As we look forward to 2008, we anticipate yet another season of growth for Horse PAC, which continues to be the largest gaming PAC after just five and a half years of operations.
With an election year upon us and a number of key legislative issues still to be addressed in the 110th Congress, we expect an active year on multiple fronts in Washington, D.C. A summary of our key legislative issues and activities in 2007 appears on pages 15 through 18 of this report.
We encourage you to keep abreast of our efforts on Capitol Hill by visiting our Web site, www.SupportHorseRacing.org. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Peggy Hendershot
Horse PAC President
Table of Contents
Message from the PAC President..................................1
Board of Directors ................................................................2
About Horse PAC ................................................................3
Receipts ......................................................................................4
Contributors...............................................................................5
Disbursements ........................................................................7
Legislative Summary.............................................................15
2007 horse pacboard of directors
In 2006, the by-laws of Horse PAC were amended to allow up to 25 members on the Board of Directors. Directors are appointed by the PAC President. The 2007 Horse PAC Board consisted of:
William S. Farish, Jr., Chairman
Antony Beck
George B. Bolton
Case Clay
Laura A. D’Angelo
Marc W. Dunbar
Robert Elliston
Robert S. Evans
Tracy Farmer
Terrence P. Finley
Lucy Young Hamilton
John C. Harris
F. Jack Liebau, Jr.
J. Kenneth Luke
Wilhelmina McEwan
Terence J. Meyocks
Anne W. Poulson
Joseph V. Shields, Jr.
Alexander M. Waldrop
NTRA President and CEO, ex officio
Peggy Hendershot
President & Treasurer
Barbara Fossum
Assistant Treasurer
about horse pac
Horse PAC is the Federal Political Action Committee (PAC) of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). The Committee was activated in 2002 to promote and facilitate the accumulation of voluntary contributions from members of the NTRA and its subsidiaries and affiliates, for the support of political parties and candidates for elective office in the United States. The Committee is dedicated to the support of candidates who have taken responsible positions on issues involving the Thoroughbred racing industry. As a multi-issue PAC, the Committee gives strategic support to federal political candidates who:
• Serve on Congressional committees that oversee livestock and agricultural issues, Internet gaming, taxation, immigration and the Interstate Horseracing Act
• Are established leaders and control Congressional leadership PACs
• Endorse tax legislation benefiting race horse owners, breeders, players and businesses
• Have racetracks, breeding farms, training centers and other equine venues in their districts
• Are members of the Congressional Horse Caucus
• Are emerging leaders meriting "early support"
Key Congressional Committees for the Thoroughbred Industry
Committee
House/Senate
Issue(s)
Agriculture
House and Senate
Livestock, equine identification, Farm Bill
Appropriations
House and Senate
Bills serve as vehicles for other provisions
Banking
Senate
Internet gaming
Senate
Interstate Horseracing Act; general oversight for professional sports, including medication issues
Energy & Commerce
House
Interstate Horseracing Act; general oversight for professional sports, including medication issues
Finance
Senate
Taxes and trade
Financial Services
House
Taxes and trade
Homeland Security
House and Senate
Security for major racing events; anti-terrorism measures affecting consumers; immigration
Judiciary
House and Senate
Internet gaming, immigration
Ways & Means
House
Taxes and trade
Commerce, Science & Technology
receipts
From inception through December 31, 2007, Horse PAC has raised $1,842,970. The committee raised $731,724 for the 2003/04 election cycle and $724,538 for the 2005/06 election cycle.
Horse PAC Annual Receipts, 2002-007
In 2007 Horse PAC continued to lead all gaming PACs by receipts.
gaming pacs receipts
2007 Horse PAC Contributors
Champions – $5,000
Josephine E. Abercrombie
Lee & Carmen Ackerley
John W. Amerman
Craig Bandoroff
Ramona Seeligson Bass
Angela Levy Beck
Bill & Susan Casner
Case B. Clay
Robert & Blythe Clay
CTBA PAC
Adele B. Dilschneider
C. Steven Duncker
Robert S. Evans
Sarah S. Farish
William S. Farish, Jr.
William S. Farish, Sr.
Mr. & Mrs. Tracy Farmer
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Ford
Mr. & Mrs. William Hamilton
Seth Hancock
Debbie Hancock
John C. Harris
William Heiligbrodt
R.D. Hubbard
E.J & Lynne Hudson, Jr.
G. Watts Humphrey, Jr.
Brereton Jones
Dr. Gary B. Knapp
Beverly Lewis
F. Jack Liebau, Sr.
Maureen O. Luke
J. Kenneth Luke
Wilhelmina McEwan
Robert McNair
Ogden M. Phipps
Arthur F. Preston
Michael L. Rankowitz
Satish & Anne Sanan
Ronald J. Sellitto
Joseph V. Shields, Jr.
Mace Siegel
Samantha Siegel
Smithfield Foods, Inc. PAC
Stuart & Anita Subotnick
William T. Young, Jr.
Winners – $,500 - $4,999
Ron Crockett
Martin Cunningham
Hugh A. Fitzsimons, Jr.
E.K. Gaylord
Helen K. Groves
Waddell W. Hancock, II
Elizabeth Jones
Robert V. LaPenta
Jeffrey & Margery Lewis
Carl F. Pollard
James & Mary Treptow
Robert B. Trussell, Jr.
Alexander M. Waldrop
Randy Zeller
Leaders – $1,000 - $,499
Gregory C. Avioli
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Barber
Mrs. John Bell, III
Bob Bork
Nicholas Brady
James C. Brady
Mr. & Mrs. Chester Broman, Sr.
Darrell & Lendy Brown
John Brooks
Alexander G. Campbell
Thomas Clark
Deborah A. Easter
Lee R. Einsidler
Robert N. Elliston
Terrence & Debbie Finley
David C. Fogg
Mr. & Mrs. Mustapha Fostock
Thomas Gaines
Martha F. Gerry
Thomas Henrion
Ian Highet
Richard C. Imbert
Barry Irwin
Charles Kidder
John K. Leonard
Mr. & Mrs. Tom Ludt
Robert Manfuso
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Matz
Kiaran McLaughlin
James & Lisa Means
Terence J. Meyocks
Jerry Moss
Mr. & Mrs. Nick Nicholson
Phillip T. O’Hara
Paul Oreffice
John C. Oxley
Raymond Paulick
Robert Penchina
Nancy Polk
Daniel M. Rosenberg
Paul Saylor
Barry K. Schwartz
Fred Seitz
Michael & Lyn Shanley
James Squires
Beverly Steinman
Robert J. Terry
Stella Ferguson Thayer
Elizabeth Valando
D.G. Van Clief, Jr.
Peter S. Willmott
David & Holly Wilson
Jack Wolf
2007 Horse PAC Contributors
Supporters – Up To - $999
Stephen & Laura Avakian
Stephen J. Barberino, Jr.
John H. Barr
Ruth Bedford
Theodore J. Berge
Stacy S. Berge
Gary Biszantz
Frank Bonsal, Jr.
Peter Bradley
Niall Brennan
Bob R. Brooks
J. Mark Burton
Thomas Capehart
Keith E. Card
Keith Chamblin & Laura D’Angelo
Mrs. Roy Chapman
Ellen MacNeille Charles
Sherwood Chillingworth
Cindy Clark
Catesby W. Clay
Mark Corrado
Brian Culnan
Douglas Dean
Marvin Delfiner
David & Christy DiPietro
M.E. Dowell
Mr. & Mrs. Charles DuBose
Christopher Elser
William Entenmann
Tom Evans
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Feldman
Brent & Crystal Fernung
Joseph Flara
Rob & Jolene Fullerton
Jim D. Gallagher
Elbridge T. Gerry, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Green
F. William Gue
Emory A. Hamilton
Vern Heath
Margaret Hendershot
Carolyn Hine
Neil Howard
Bruce Hundley
Robert G. Irvin
Jim D. Jackson
Annie Jones
Bill Justice
Syl Kiger
Caesar P. Kimmel
Patricia A. Klussman
Theodore Kuster
David L. Kyger
John & Louise Lally
William & Sally Landes
Louisa Lenehan
Lara Levine
Bertram Linder
W. Bruce Lunsford
Willliam Maley
Frank Mansell
Dr. Merritt W. Marrs, Jr.
Jaqueline Badger Mars
Tony Metaxas
A. Stevens Miles, Jr.
Maurleen V. Miller
MacKenzie Miller
John & Susan Moore
Mark Moran
Edmund Mudge, IV
Joanne R. Mummert
Frances Myers
John Nash
John A. Nerud
Howard C. Nolan, Jr.
William Parsons, Jr.
John W. Phillips
James A. Philpott, Jr.
Cynthia Phipps
Todd & Tracy Pletcher
Kjell H. Qvale
Dr. David Richardson
Dr. Jack K. Robbins
Josh Rubinstein
Andrew Sauve
Chris Scherf
Peter G. Schiff
Mitchell L. Schlossman
Allen Schubert
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Smith
George Strawbridge, Jr.
John Stuart
John M. Sullivan, Jr.
Ted Taylor
Peter Van Andel
Dr. Glen C. Warren
Wheelock Whitney
Ward Williford
Henry A. Zeitlin
ntra advantage
Contributors to Horse PAC are eligible for significant savings on nationally known products like John Deere, Sherwin-Williams, UPS and more through NTRA Advantage. When you use NTRA Advantage vendors, a portion of your purchase prices goes to support the equine industry. To enjoy the benefits of group purchasing and one-stop buying, call toll-free at (866) 678-4289 or visit www.NTRAadvantage.com.
or visit www.NTRAadvantage.com
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Candidates by Amount*
State
Amount
Rank
KY
$37,500
1
CA
$20,500
2
NY
$19,000
3
TX
$15,000
4
AR
$11,000
5
OH
$10,000
6
VA
$9,500
7
MI
$7,500
8
OR
$7,500
9
GA
$7,000
10
LA
$7,000
11
FL
$6,500
12
IA
$6,000
13
TN
$6,000
14
PA
$5,500
15
AL
$5,000
16
MN
$5,000
17
MT
$5,000
18
State
Amount
Rank
ND
$5,000
19
NH
$5,000
20
SC
$5,000
21
IL
$3,500
22
KS
$3,500
23
MS
$3,500
24
UT
$3,500
25
IN
$3,000
26
NJ
$2,500
27
NC
$2,000
28
CO
$1,000
29
ME
$1,000
30
NM
$1,000
31
OK
$1,000
32
SD
$1,000
33
WI
$1,000
34
WY
$1,000
35
Total
$234,500
*Excludes disbursements to political committees that are not associated with individual candidates.
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Candidates by State*
State
Amount
Rank
AL
$5,000
16
AR
$11,000
5
CA
$20,500
2
CO
$1,000
29
FL
$6,500
12
GA
$7,000
10
IA
$6,000
13
IL
$3,500
22
IN
$3,000
26
KS
$3,500
23
KY
$37,500
1
LA
$7,000
11
ME
$1,000
30
MI
$7,500
8
MN
$5,000
17
MS
$3,500
24
MT
$5,000
18
NC
$2,000
28
State
Amount
Rank
ND
$5,000
19
NH
$5,000
20
NJ
$2,500
27
NM
$1,000
31
NY
$19,000
3
OH
$10,500
6
OK
$1,000
32
OR
$7,500
9
PA
$5,500
15
SC
$5,000
21
SD
$1,000
33
TN
$6,000
14
TX
$15,000
4
UT
$3,500
25
VA
$9,500
7
WI
$1,000
34
WY
$1,000
35
Total
$234,500
*Excludes disbursements to political committees that are not associated with individual candidates.
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Contributions: ($294,500)
Democrats 54 percent ($158,000)
Republicans 46 percent ($136,500)
House Candidates/PACs 66 percent ($195,000)
Senate Candidates/PACs 34 percent ($99,500)
year-by-year pacdisbursements
Total to Date $1,351,000
0
007 Disbursements
The following candidates and political committees received Horse PAC funds in 2007:
United States House of Representatives
House of Reps
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
Artur Davis
D
AL
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means/CBC
Marion Berry
D
AR
2008
$1,000
Appropriations & Budget/Blue Dog Coalition
Mike Ross
D
AR
2008
$2,500
Energy & Commerce/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Dennis Cardoza
D
CA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Jim Costa
D
CA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Devin Nunes
R
CA
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
Loretta Sanchez
D
CA
2008
$1,000
Armed Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Adam Schiff
D
CA
2008
$2,000
Appropriations/Judiciary/Blue Dog Coalition
John Salazar
D
CO
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
F. Allen Boyd
D
FL
2008
$1,000
Appropriations/Blue Dog Coalition
Tom Feeney
R
FL
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Judiciary/Horse Caucus
Ric Keller
R
FL
2008
$1,000
Judiciary/Education & Labor/Horse Caucus
Tim Mahoney
D
FL
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Debbie Wasserman Shultz
D
FL
2008
$2,500
Appropriations/Judiciary
John Barrow
D
GA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Jim Marshall
D
GA
2008
$1,000
Finance/Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Leonard Boswell
D
IA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Melissa Bean
D
IL
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Joe Donnelly
D
IN
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Brad Ellsworth
D
IN
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Baron Hill
D
IN
2008
$1,000
Energy & Commerce/Blue Dog Coalition
Dennis Moore
D
KS
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Ben Chandler
D
KY
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Geoff Davis
R
KY
2008
$5,000
Financial Services/Horse Caucus
Ron Lewis
R
KY
2008
$10,000
Ways & Means/Horse Caucus
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
United States House of Representatives ( continued)
House of Reps
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
John Yarmuth
D
KY
2008
$5,000
Education & Labor
Rodney Alexander
R
LA
2008
$1,000
Appropriations/Budget
Charles Boustany, Jr.
R
LA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture
Mike Michaud
D
ME
2008
$1,000
Small Business/Blue Dog Coalition
Dave Camp
R
MI
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
John Dingell
D
MI
2008
$5,000
Energy & Commerce
Collin Peterson
D
MN
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition/Horse Caucus
Mike McIntyre
D
NC
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Heath Shuler
D
NC
2008
$1,000
Appropriations/Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Earl Pomeroy
D
ND
2008
$2,500
Agriculture/Ways & Means/Blue Dog Coalition
Frank Pallone
D
NJ
2008
$2,500
Energy & Commerce/Horse Caucus
Steve Pearce
R
NM
2008
$1,000
Financial Serv./Homeland Security/Horse Caucus
Joseph Crowley
D
NY
2008
$5,000
Ways & Means/Foreign Affairs/Horse Caucus
Kirsten Gillibrand
D
NY
2008
$3,500
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
John Hall
D
NY
2008
$1,000
Transportation & Infrastructure
Carolyn McCarthy
D
NY
2008
$2,000
Financial Services /Horse Caucus
Charles Rangel
D
NY
2008
$5,000
Ways & Means/CBC
Patrick Tiberi
R
OH
2008
$1,000
Ways & Means/Horse Caucus
Stephanie Tubbs Jones
D
OH
2008
$1,000
Ways & Means/CBC
Charlie Wilson
D
OH
2008
$1,000
Financial Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Dan Boren
D
OK
2008
$1,000
Fin. Serv./Natural Resources/Blue Dog Coalition
Darlene Hooley
D
OR
2008
$2,500
Energy & Commerce
Phil English
R
PA
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
Tim Holden
D
PA
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Patrick Murphy
D
PA
2008
$2,000
Armed Services/Blue Dog Coalition
Stephanie Herseth
D
SD
2008
$1,000
Agriculture/Blue Dog Coalition
Jim Cooper
D
TN
2008
$1,000
Budget/Blue Dog Coalition
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
United States House of Representatives ( continued)
House of Reps
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
John Tanner
D
TN
2008
$5,000
Ways & Means/Blue Dog Coalition
Sam Johnson
R
TX
2008
$2,500
Ways & Means
Jim Matheson
D
UT
2008
$1,000
Energy & Commerce/Blue Dog Coalition
Rich Boucher
D
VA
2008
$1,000
Energy & Commerce/Judiciary/Horse Caucus
Randy Forbes
R
VA
2008
$1,000
Judiciary
Bob Goodlatte
R
VA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Judiciary
Ron Kind
D
WI
2008
$1,000
Ways & Means
DCCC
D
$15,000
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
NRCC
R
$5,000
National Republican Congressional Committee
CBC
D
$5,000
Congressional Black Caucus
Blue Dog Coalition
D
$5,000
Total-House of Reps Candidates/PAC
$162,500
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
United States Senate
Senate
State
Re-election Year
2007 Disbursed
Congressional Committee(s)
Richard Shelby
R
AL
2010
$2,500
Banking/Appropriations
Mark Pryor
D
AR
2008
$2,500
Commerce
Saxby Chambliss
R
GA
2008
$5,000
Agriculture
Charles Grassley
R
IA
2010
$5,000
Finance/Judiciary/Agriculture
Dick Durbin
D
IL
2008
$2,500
Appropriations/Judiciary
Jim Bunning
R
KY
2010
$2,500
Finance
Pat Roberts
R
KS
2008
$2,500
Agriculture/Ethics/Finance
Thad Cochran
R
MS
2008
$3,500
Appropriations/Agriculture
Max Baucus
D
MT
2008
$5,000
Agriculture
Byron Dorgan
D
ND
2010
$2,500
Homeland Security
John Sununu
R
NH
2008
$5,000
Banking
George Voinovich
R
OH
2010
$2,500
Homeland Security
Lindsey Graham
R
SC
2008
$5,000
Agriculture/Budget/Judiciary
John Cornyn
R
TX
2008
$5,000
Judiciary
John Barrasso
R
WY
2013
$1,000
Energy/Environment/Public Works
DSCC
D
$15,000
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
NRSC
R
$15,000
National Republican Senatorial Committee
Total-Senate
$ 82,000
2007 Horse PAC Disbursements
Federal Leadership PACs
Associated Candidate
State
House/
Senate
2007 Disbursed
PAC
Blanche Lincoln
D
AR
S
$5,000
LINC PAC
Dennis Cardoza
D
CA
H
$5,000
Moderate Victory Fund
Mitch McConnell
R
KY
S
$5,000
Bluegrass Committee
Hal Rogers
R
KY
H
$5,000
HAL PAC
Jim McCrery
R
LA
H
$5,000
Comm for Preservation of Capitalism
Tom Reynolds
R
NY
H
$2,500
TOM PAC
John Boehner
R
OH
H
$5,000
The Freedom Project
Gordon Smith
R
OR
S
$5,000
Impact America
Sam Johnson
R
TX
H
$2,500
Secure America’s Majority
Lamar Smith
R
TX
H
$5,000
Longhorn PAC
Robert Bennett
R
UT
S
$2,500
Snow PAC
Eric Cantor
D
VA
H
$2,500
ERIC PAC
GRAND TOTAL
$50,000
Total Leadership
$ 294,500
2007 Legislative Summary
As the trade association for the Thoroughbred industry, NTRA focuses its lobbying efforts on legislation having direct and material effect on its members and their business activities as they relate to race horse racing, breeding and pari-mutuel wagering.
Key issues for the association include safeguarding the industry’s ability to continue to conduct online pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing as authorized by the Interstate Horseracing Act, and tax issues affecting horse owners, breeders, racetracks and players. Notably in 2007, the association secured passage of the Equine Equity Act as part of the Senate-passed version of the Farm Bill.
In conjunction with the American Horse Council, the NTRA also supports Congressional education programs on general issues – such as agricultural matters and immigration – that affect a broad spectrum of horse owners, breeders and industry personnel.
The NTRA’s 2007 legislative activities are summarized below.
Farm Bill/Equine Equity Act
In 2007, the Equine Equity Act (EEA) provision was successfully attached to the Senate version of the Farm Bill, which passed in early December. The House passed its version of the Farm Bill in late summer. The two bills must now be reconciled in Conference, a process that is likely to begin in early 2008. The combined cost of the EEA – $489 million over 10 years – requires a revenue-raising offset under the current "pay-go" rules. An EEA offset has been identified, completing an important step.
First introduced in the 109th Congress and re-introduced in the 110th Congress, the EEA would lower the capital gains holding period for horses from 24 months to 12 months and accelerate and make uniform the depreciation of race horses from seven years (in most cases) to 36 months over four tax years. EEA remains one of the NTRA’s top tax priorities for the current Congress.
Player Withholding Bill
In 2007, NTRA initiated discussions with key Members regarding legislation to eliminate or substantially increase the threshold for federal tax withholding on pari-mutuel winnings (currently set at $5,000), which places the racing industry at a competitive disadvantage. Other forms of gaming such as poker, casino games and slots, are not subject to withholding. Withholding levels for pari-mutuel winnings were last changed (from $1,000 to $5,000) in 1992. The association will seek new "withholding conformity" legislation in 2008.
Proposed Steroid Legislation
In 2007, the NTRA was contacted by staffers for the House Energy & Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Interstate Horseracing Act, regarding the use of steroids in racehorses. The query was part of a larger investigation into the use of steroids in other sports, notably Major League Baseball. NTRA representatives provided information on the horse industry’s medication rules, drug testing practices and penalties. Legislation aimed at eliminating or controlling steroid usage is in development. The association will continue to monitor legislation and public hearings regarding drug testing in professional sports.
Internet Gaming
Four separate pieces of legislation relating to Internet gaming were introduced in 2007: 1) a proposal for a government-funded study of Internet gaming, introduced by Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV); 2) a bill to regulate Internet gaming, introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA); 3) a bill to tax Internet gaming, introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA); and 4) a bill to expand the definition of what constitutes a "game of skill" that can be played over the Internet, introduced by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL). All four bills remain stalled at the committee level. State Attorneys General continue to oppose any effort to undermine States’ powers to establish their own gaming laws. NTRA continues to monitor these bills.
2007 Legislative Summary
7
UIGEA Regulations
In 2006, Congress passed the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) to prohibit the funding of unlawful Internet wagering. UIGEA, contained in Public Law 109-347, recognized horseracing’s authority to continue to conduct online pari-mutuel wagering on horseracing as authorized under the Interstate Horseracing Act (IHA). The statute directed the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve, in consultation with the Justice Department, to produce supporting regulations. Draft regulations were issued on October 1, 2007. The public comment period for the proposed regulations concluded on December 12, 2007. NTRA continues to monitor the proposed regulations.
Immigration
After several failed attempts at immigration reform over the past 18 months, Congress has substantially backed off the issue in 2007 and is not expected to take up comprehensive immigration reform until after the presidential elections in 2008. Democratic leadership has, for the most part, resisted piecemeal efforts to pass parts of the immigration bill. Efforts by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to attach her AgJOBS bill to the Farm Bill and by Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) to move legislation that would allow H-2B workers who have worked in the U.S. in the previous three years to be exempted from the annual visa cap of 66,000 were rebuffed. The 66,000 visa cap was met within days of the start of the new fiscal year.
To increase its role in immigration advocacy, NTRA has joined an immigration coalition for associations and industries that rely heavily on H-2B workers. The H2-B Workforce Coalition includes the American Horse Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Associated Builders and Contractors, American Nursery & Landscape Association and thousands of other organizations and industries employing immigrant workers.
2007 Legislative Summary
Horse Slaughter
In 2007, the House passed an Agriculture Appropriations bill that de-funds United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection services in connection with the movement of slaughter-bound horses. The Senate version of the Ag Appropriations bill contains no similar language. Democratic House Leadership remains supportive of the anti-slaughter language, as are several key Senators. Whether the language survives in Conference as yet remains uncertain.
Also in 2007, the USDA proposed amendments to the regulations governing the commercial transportation of equines for slaughter. The changes would extend the protections provided by the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act (CTESA) to horses bound for slaughter but delivered first to an assembly point, feedlot, or stockyard.
Currently, CTESA protections (including mandated rest periods and access to food and water) apply only to equines being transported directly to a slaughter plant, not to slaughter-bound equines that are moved to intermediate stopping points during the shipping process. The proposed amendment would close the gap in the protections afforded by CTESA.
2008 Outlook
After Democrats assumed majorities in both the House and Senate in late 2006, Horse PAC adjusted its disbursements in 2007 to reflect the new balance of power in Congress.
In 2008, the PAC will continue its pattern of bi-partisan giving. In anticipation of greater activity with respect to tax issues affecting horsemen, racetracks and horse players, Horse PAC will increase its focus on tax committees such as the House Ways & Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. Horse PAC will also continue its strategic support for Congressional committees and PACs such as the Blue Dog Coalition, the Congressional Black Caucus, and Democratic and Republican leadership committees in both the House and Senate.
2007 Legislative Summary
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For more information contact:
Peggy Hendershot
Horse PAC President
(800) 792-6872, ext. 648
www.SupportHorseRacing.org
2525 Harrodsburg Road
Lexington, KY 40504
Phone: (859) 245-6872
Fax: (859) 223-3945
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