Apparently, AB 854, the ferret amnesty bill, has been placed on "suspense" by the Senate Appropriations chairman Pat Johnston. I don't know exactly what that means, except that if the bill is not pulled from the suspense file within 2 weeks (apparently at the chairman's whim), it dies. The same guy did the same thing to the ferret bill last year. It's deja vu all over again. At http://www.ferretnews.org/archive.html#090598 you can read: <quote> 9/5/98 Sadly our bill to legalize ferrets, AB 363, died a few days ago. The bill failed because one State Senator, Patrick Johnston (D-Stockton), refused to allow it a hearing in his committee. We believe we had the votes to pass this committee easily which is one of the reasons Senator Johnston never allowed it to come up. <unquote> Californians, I encourage you to call, write, fax, or email Senator Johnston *politely* with your opinion on AB 854 ASAP. Ask him to give AB 854 a fair hearing and allow the committee to vote ("pretty please"). You should also contact your local senator (Who is that? Check http://www.ferretnews.org/legislators.html) and Governor Gray Davis about your support for AB 854. I'll buy you a beer at the victory party!! People outside CA can also *politely* contact Governor Davis. (I don't understand the "politics," but apparently out-of-staters should not contact CA senators.) ************************* Senator Patrick Johnston D-Stockton Senate District 5 mailto:[log in to unmask] Capitol Office: State Capitol Room 5066 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: (916) 445-2407 District Offices: 1020 N St., Ste. 504 Sacramento, CA 95814 Ph: (916) 323-4306 31 East Channel St. Room 440 Stockton, CA 95202 Ph: (209) 948-7930 Governor Gray Davis State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone (916) 445-2841 Fax (916) 445-4633 ********************************** Thanks, everyone!! [Posted in FML issue 2784]