This is being cross posted with permission from Jeanne Carley.
Robin Jones
 
Hello all,

Next Saturday Ferrets Anonymous Statewide organization will hold its
annual Round UP in Sacramento California. At issue is whether or not
Ferrets Anonymous should change its position against the ferret
initiative in California. I urge you to attend this meeting if at all
possible, to ensure that your voice is heard. You can find out more
about the Round UP by visiting http://www.ferretsanonymous.com.

Most of you know that I vehemently oppose the initiative process for
the ferret issue. Issues that touch a large number of voters and/or
that have lots of money behind them, are the kinds of issues that
prevail in the initiative process. As one professional told me, "If
you don't have at least a million dollars for advertising, you have
no business launching an initiative." The ferret issue meets none of
these criteria.

You should know that we have had some success in the legislature and it
would be foolish to close that door. Hundreds of bills are introduced
in the legislature each session and only a small fraction make it to
the Governor's desk. SB 55, authored by Senator Dede Alpert and
sponsored by Californians for Ferret Legalization (CFL) made it to the
Governor but was sadly vetoed. That does not mean we cannot try again.
However, when the initiative fails (please read the attached document
from Mike Dillon who lobbied for our issue on behalf of the California
Veterinary Medical Association, CVMA), it would shut the door to future
legislative efforts for years to come.

Supporters of the initiative say that because we do not currently have
a bill, we should go the initiative route. That's tantamount to saying,
because we don't have a parachute we should jump off this cliff. It's
a non sequitur, it makes no sense. And it is dangerous to the process
(again, please read Mike Dillon's attachment).

Supporters also say that because our author supports the initiative,
it's a good idea. Actually not necessarily so. Senator Alpert authored
the failed library bond measure that Mr Dillon refers to. Senator
Alpert thought it was a good idea, but it still failed.

All of the lobbyists that worked on the previous ferret bills, Mike
Dillon for the CVMA, Bob Naylor on behalf of Californians for Ferret
Legalization and Kevin Pedrotti of the Pet Industries Joint Advisory
Committee have all told me they believe the initiative is a very,
very bad idea for the reasons that Mike outlines in his memo to me
of September 22, 2006.

So, who opposes the initiative? All of the past lobbyists for the
ferret bills and all of the California state-wide ferret clubs and
Associations including the sponsors of the bills, Californians for
Ferret Legalization (CFL), Ferrets Anonymous Statewide, West Coast
Ferrets (previously Capitol City Ferret Club), Northern California
Ferret Alliance (NCFA) and Golden State Ferret Society. We have all
looked at the issue and the facts and have sided with the professionals
(most lobbying firms have direct experience in initiatives unlike
anyone at legalizeferrets.org).

Who supports the initiative? Mostly individuals but one in particular,
Pat Wright, formerly head of Ferrets Anonymous. Frankly I give a lot of
credit to Pat for drive and energy. But sadly, so much of that energy
is not productive or is even harmful. Pat has a history of not
listening to professionals but rather will go his own way substituting
his judgement for advice from lobbyists or from those closest to the
issue.

My first experience with this was when Pat demonstrated outside of
Assemblymember Frazee's office. Mr. Frazee had actually looked into
sponsoring ferret legalization in the past but because he did not
immediately respond to Pat's request for a position on the ferret bill,
Pat organized a demonstration outside of his offices. The first I heard
of it was during a call from our lobbyist Bob Naylor. He warned me that
this was not a good thing, that Assemblymember Frazee was angered by
it. I called Pat but Bob's advice to Pat fell on deaf ears. Fortunately
Assemblymember Frazee supported our bill in the end regardless.

Another example of poor judgement on Pat's part was his lawsuit against
the Department of Fish and Game. My father and I had previously
contacted some legal firms including the Pacific Research Institute
(PRI), to see about a suit that might bring relief to ferret owners. We
were told that they would prefer a case at the appellate level because
that is the best place to change the law and that they would also need
a good case because poor cases set bad precedents. When Bob Naylor (who
was the attorney and lobbyist for CFL) looked at Pat's failed lawsuit
his comment was that, "Pat didn't do you any favors with this lawsuit."
In other words, his failed lawsuit is now a case that other attorneys
and judges can point to as supporting the ban on ferrets. This is why
good law firms do not take on bad cases when they want to change the
law.

Now we have the ferret initiative. Against all advice from those who
organize and shepherd initiatives through the process successfully, Pat
once again, substitutes his judgement for those who know better. But
this time the consequences could be severe. I believe we can prevail
eventually in the legislature, but not with a failed initiative in our
history. I know there are folks in the ferret community who are smart
enough and have enough energy, drive and, perhaps most importantly,
good sense, to see a future bill through. Let's not shut that door
because there will be no avenue left if we do.

Please feel free to post this where you think it will help but please
do not edit without my written permission.

Sincerely,
Jeanne Carley
12 Year Volunteer Lobbyist for CFL  (now retired)

[Posted in FML 5558]