Politics

Trenton, N.J. - He's put away the scuba gear, paused the pottery wheel and plans to rearrange time spent as his practice to do one thing - run for the New Jersey General Assembly.

TOPEKA, KAN. - 2/14/06 - A Kansas Senate bill would classify serious acts of animal cruelty as a felony.

Washington — Wyeth Pharmaceuticals plans to aid a Senate investigation after allegations surfaced that the company attempted to discredit a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer who challenged the safety of ProHeart 6.

Washington — Congress has sent the White House a $101-billion agriculture appropriations measure that earmarks funds for several key veterinary initiatives, including $500,000 for the National Veterinary Medical Services Act (NVMSA).

Washington — The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) turned up the political chatter against high-volume breeders in testimony before the U.S. Senate.

WASHINGTON - 9/24/2005 - Lester M. Crawford, DVM, PhD, resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. He was considered the highest ranking veterinarian serving in public office.

Minneapolis — Dr. Ford W. Bell seeks election to the U.S. Senate in November 2006, vying to become the nation's third veterinarian on Capitol Hill.

Orlando — The Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA) breaths a sigh of relief after Gov. Jeb Bush vetoed a bill that carried lenient standards on pharmacy dispensing laws.

Washington —The microchip controversy has entered Congress as an amendment to the House's agriculture appropriations bill for 2006.

Dear Doctor -- June/July 2005

Tallahassee, Fla. — The Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA) is working to stifle a bill that would allow non-human medications to be processed with only a faxed prescription.

Washington — Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) officials want Congress to strengthen the nation's veterinary programs by more than $1.5 billion.

Columbus, Ohio — As Ohio lawmakers haggle over a $51.3-billion budget initiative, several amendments have caught the attention of veterinary leaders in the state.

Austin, Texas — Texas House Bill 522, if passed, would require veterinarians to write prescriptions for client's pets on demand — an issue that creates numerous concerns for the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) as well as practitioners.

Sacramento, Calif. - As the California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) takes heat for fighting West Hollywood's declaw ban, the group votes to support legislation to outlaw ear cropping, a largely cosmetic procedure.

Georgia governor finds similarities in diagnosing disease and solving public policy problems.

Raleigh, NC -Criticism could continue to plague veterinarians, as a proposed animal protection act did not see its way into the state's legislature this year.

Legislation advances despite organized veterinary medicine's efforts to derail controversial measure

Washington-Dr. Jack O. Walther has urged Congress to commit more federal funds toward battling chronic wasting (CWD) disease in elk and deer herds.

Columbus-The Ohio Legislature is mulling a bill that, similar to existing agricultural commodity programs, would market the equine profession to the public.

Schaumburg, Ill.-The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 857) holds potential to harm more horses than it rescues, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Washington-The government might start paying off veterinary student loans to entice new graduates to work in underserved areas.

Washington-The U.S. House of Representatives OK'd legislation that would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) an infusion of new monies to spur approvals of new animal drugs.

CVMA sets sights on repealing West Hollywood's well-publicized ordinance

Austin, Texas-A proposed bill in Texas, in accord with federal law, would legalize the slaughter of horses and sale of horsemeat outside the United States.

Washington-It's a loan repayment program with a catch.

Okemos, Mich.-Stemming from a veterinarian's successful grassroots crusade to back a client's campaign for state attorney general, the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association has spawned a legislative network.

Fort Thomas, Ky.-State legislators are mulling three bills that would classify animal cruelty a felony, punishable by jail time, instead of the misdemeanor it is currently.

Salem, Ore.-As state lawmakers open the 2003 legislative session next month, it's likely they'll face issues concerning the veterinary profession, including a bill that holds DVMs responsible for reporting animal abuse to local authorities.

Schaumburg, Ill.-The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Governmental Relations Division, in partnership with the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), is accepting applications for the 2003-04 AVMA/AVMF Congressional Science Fellowship Program.