(I'll definitely have some comments on this veto soon... - promoted by Jay Stevens)
April 5, 2009
Governor Brian D. Schweitzer
Office of the Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box 200801
Helena MT 59620-0801
Dear Governor Schweitzer,
I'm writing this afternoon to thank you for vetoing the portions of Rep. Ed Butcher's recently passed bill dealing with the establishment of a horse slaughtering facility in Montana. Like you, I have no issues the establishement of such a facility, and if there proves to be a need for it, then Montana will be ready to meet that need.
But I strongly agree with the rationale for your veto, and I think that Ed Butcher's reaction to your veto proves the sound logic you used to veto it. Ed represents my district, but when he seeks to short circuit my rights as a citizen to contribute input on the siting of such a facility, or prohibit me from suing such a facility if it seeks to externalize its costs in a way that affects my health or welfare, well, then he doesn't represent me. You summed it up quite nicely-Ed's Bill was in fact a Trojan Horse, seeking to establish a precedent for making facilities immune to compaints and concerns from their surrounding communities.
Again, thanks for the veto. Your good judgement on this matter is why I've supported your candidacies in the past,
All the best,
Jeff Shelden, AIA
JS:cvs |
