Hello everyone, The following is a message I just received from our author. It is clearly intended for all of you! And, I just got the news that we've added 5 more in support of our ferret bill and sadly one more opposed. Those voting in support are Migden, Bowen, Campbell, Napolitano and Woods!!! Frusetta voted no. This information is from the legislative home page of the CA Assembly. Take a look for yourself and enjoy: Ayes: 64 Noes: 8 Abstaining or not voting: 8 FOLKS, THIS IS A LANDSLIDE!!!!!! Here's the message from Jan. Jeanne: I just want to thank and congratulate ferret enthusiasts for their big victory on Thursday. You overcame some very strong opposition, although that opposition is clearly based upon misinformation. Members of the Assembly were convinced. The applause on the floor from members was among the strongest and genuine since I have been in the Assembly. We applaud, perhaps, 5 or 10 bills a year- out of thousands. Your cause touched our members because they understand it is an example of government over-regulating something personal and comparatively harmless. Now, on to the Senate. We may get an early hearing in the Natural Resources Committee. As you may recall, this committee killed SB 55 last year. So, this will be a challenge. But, by no means should you be discouraged. I believe we can get this bill through the Senate and have it signed by the Governor. But, it is going to take hard work by a lot of people because the misinformation has to be corrected. Some of the best tools for showing the truth on this issue are the new California State Library report, the Pacific Research Institute report, and the support letters from the California Animal Control Directors Association, the veterinarians association and the poultry industry association. However, the best tool is personal contact with Senators by constituents. A visit to the district or Sacramento office, a letter and a telephone call. It is also important for people to write letters to the editor and call in talk shows about this issue. Take the theme that this is an example of government intrusion into our rights, this silly ban is costing taxpayers millions of dollars, people are going to jail over this while we do not have jail space for real criminals and that California is the only state in the continental U.S. to ban pet ownership of domestic ferrets. The members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee are fair minded and sensitive. The key swing votes might be Senators Pat Johnston, Mike Thompson, Tim Leslie and Dede Alpert. They are all good members who do their homework. It will not be easy getting this bill through the Senate. But, it can be done. Again, congratulations on your well-deserved victory in the Assembly. Jan +++++++++++++++++++++++++ All of you should know that Jan has been a tireless champion of this issue and deserves much of the credit for this recent win. However, all of his hard work would be wasted if it were not for your letters, phone calls and meetings with your representatives. You have sent the strongest message to the legislature that it is time for the good people of California to be decriminalized for such innocent act of ferret ownership. Without your efforts on this bill's behalf, we would not have had the kind of victory we did in the Assembly. Here are the Members of the Senate Natural Resources Committee (thank you Debbie A.): Dede Alpert 1557 Columbia Street San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 645-3090 State Capitol, Room 2187 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-3952 [log in to unmask] Tom Hayden, Chair 10951 West Pico Boulevard, Suite 202 Los Angeles, CA 90064 No phone number listed State Capitol, Room 2080 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-1353 No email address listed Maurice Johannessen 410 Hemsted Drive, Suite 200 Redding, CA 96002 (916) 224-4706 State Capitol, Room 5061 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-3353 [log in to unmask] Patrick Johnston 31 East Channel Street, Suite 440 Stockton, CA 95202 No phone number listed State Capitol, Room 5066 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-2407 [log in to unmask] Tim Leslie 1200 Melody Lane, Suite 110 Roseville, CA 95678 (916) 969-8232 State Capitol, Room 4081 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-5788 [log in to unmask] Dick Monteith 1620 North Carpenter Road, Suite A-4 Modesto, CA 95358 (209) 557-6592 State Capitol, Room 2048 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-1392 [log in to unmask] Jack O'Connell 228 West Carrillo, Suite F Santa Barbara, CA 93101 (805) 966-2296 State Capitol, Room 5035 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-5405 [log in to unmask] Byron Sher 260 Main Street, Suite 201 Redwood City, CA 94063 (415) 364-2080 State Capitol, Room 2054 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-6747 [log in to unmask] Mike Thompson, Vice Chair 1040 Main Street, Suite 101 Napa, CA 94559 (707) 224-1990 State Capitol, Room 3056 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 445-3375 [log in to unmask] Californians for Ferret Legalization is asking that ferret folks coordinate with us to schedule district meetings with each and every State Senator. We can provide constituents with the documents Jan mentioned above but we must coordinate this effort because we can only send one packet per Senate district (though 3-5 people can go to the district meetings). Please e-mail or phone me to let me know you are working to schedule a district meeting. Start making those phone calls to your State Senators NOW!! District meetings are held locally on Fridays only so they fill up fast. Try to see the Senator in the district. Tell your Senator that this bill is very important to you and your family. Be polite but persistent because it is his/her job to listen to the concerns of constituents. If the Senator asks that you come to Sacramento please see them in their Sacramento office if it is at all possible! In any case, get in touch with me if you are successful in setting up a district meeting so I can get you a packet of information to you. I'm supposed to take a much delayed vacation in late June, we'll see if I still get to go, but if I do, I will make sure that there's someone else that has the packets to ship to you. In addition, Senator Leslie is running for State-wide office (for the life of me I can't remember which) but all of us should write to him. Senator Thompson is running for the N. CAL congressional office so he needs tons of letters from N. California. Please double your efforts in the Senate. We will need everyone to givbe 100% on this to win. Also, you can see how important it is to get good, accurate press on this issue. Please write to the editor of your local papers. A very bi-partisan Assembly vote sends this bill to the Senate. That alone should tell these editors something about the merits of this bill. Congratulations Californians on shepherding ferret legalization successfully through the Assembly. Jeanne Carley Californians for Ferret Legalization 410 Mountain Home Road Woodside, CA 94062 (415) 851-3750 <[log in to unmask]> http://www.ccnet.com/~beisners/gsfs/lobby.html CALIFORNIANS, YOU CAN FIND OUT YOUR ASSEMBLYMEMBER AND STATE SENATOR BY VISITING THIS SITE!! IT'S TIME TO CALL AND WRITE YOUR SENATOR--THE FIRST COMMITTEE VOTE WILL HAPPEN SOON! [Posted in FML issue 1963]