[Capr-announce] Fw: Washington State (please share with your WA contacts): This Wed., Feb. 21st 8 AM PST Hearing on No NAIS: HB 1151

Mon Feb 19 09:34:17 PST 2007

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Julie Smithson 
Sent: Monday, February 19, 2007 8:30 AM
Subject: Washington State (please share with your WA contacts): This Wed., Feb. 21st 8 AM PST Hearing on No NAIS: HB 1151

All:

Please don't shoot the messenger. If you aren't in Washington State, but you know folks there, please, share this with them. You know how I feel about attachments, but requests to not send me attachments sometimes fall on deaf ears in the heat of an issue, especially this animal I.D. issue. So, please bear with it and benefit from the information being imparted. This animal I.D. issue is something that can and will impact everyone, because it can (and will) so easily transition from livestock to pets to people. All the arguments for NAIS cannot overcome the very real and imminent threats to freedom in this great country. We already have efficient, effective brand laws in most states. There is already a safe means of keeping our U.S.A.-raised meat products safe without this draconian restriction. Remember that animal I.D. is the camel's nose under the tent of freedom. 

Sincerely,

Julie

www.propertyrightsresearch.org receives daily visitors from every state; 164 countries, too! Five million plus first-time visitors; more than a billion return/regular visitors. Protecting property rights requires knowledge. If you are a financial supporter, sincere thanks! If not, please send a check today to: Julie K. Smithson, 213 Thorn Locust Lane, London, OH 43140. To be removed from this list, just reply and say, "Please unsubscribe." It's that easy. Research done by request (but not free gratis, and only upon approval).

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Elisheva 
To: Elisheva
Sent: 2/17/2007 5:26:35 PM 
Subject: 

Hi Y'all,

Our big day for the HB 1151 (No NAIS) "Prohibiting the state from establishing or participating in an animal identification system"  is this Wednesday, February 21st, 2007, at 8 AM.  I am writing this to answer some basic questions on how to prepare and what to do on Wednesday.

We have been limited to three people testifying.  One person is from eastern Washington, one person is a lobbyist, and I.  We limited our ability to testify to three people because of the concern on the part of our House Agricultural Committee Chairman.  This is not optimal, but it was our only chance for a hearing.  In the sea of legislation it is fairly uncommon for an unknown cause-NoNAIS (due to many factors) and unknown people (small farmers), without high paid lobbyists to make it this far.  It is because of all of YOUR diligent efforts in writing and calling that our bill, HB 1151, has come this far.  Thank you and please keep up the good work.  There are many agricultural issues in the "hopper" as they say here in Olympia, so watching, writing and calling may well become a way of life for all us all, sad to say.  The flip side is that we have been blessed with many opportunities to bring small farming issues to the powers that be, our legislators, who represent "We the People", and we are making the most of each of them. <smile>  

How do I prepare?

It is best to look over the attached guidelines on etiquette.  We want to maintain the highest degree of integrity that we worked so hard to achieve over the last year.  

Written Testimony or Memorandum to be submitted in person

Next, it would be best to prepare written testimony that you can include: For the Record

Your written testimony can take three forms:

  1.. A letter stating if you favor HB 1151 or oppose and why.  Include your contact information and state it is:   For the Record 
  2.. Use the Basic template attached for a detailed testimony or Memorandum.  An example is provided to help you.  It is color coded to help you compose your testimony. 
  3.. Memorandum Template is a very legal and formal Memorandum.  An example is provided to help you.  It is color coded to help you. 

Next, if you plan to attend the hearing make copies of whichever testimony you choose.  You will need 20 copies.  Do not ask your Representative to make copies.  They have other tasks in addition to us.  One copy will be for you.  Four copies will go to the Legislative staff, over on the left.  The rest will go the Agricultural Committee.  

If you cannot attend the hearing but want to submit written Testimony or Memorandum

If you cannot make the hearing your voice can still be heard and testimony or Memorandum submitted.  To do this: email the following person by Tuesday morning:

pearce.calista at leg.wa.gov  She will ensure that everyone gets a copy of your testimony or Memorandum.

Follow up sending a hard copy to:  

State of Washington

House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources

Attention: Ms. Calista Pearce, Legislative Assistant

P.O. 40600, Olympia, Wash. 98504-0600

You may choose to follow the procedure below to ensure that your hard-copy is entered into the record: (Attached above)

A cover letter

A document entitled "Notice of Appearance by Mail"

A "Certificate of Mailing"

Next, check before you leave home or your hotel to make sure our hearing has not been rescheduled.

What do I say?

The Agricultural Committee hears allot of legislation.  It is best to be direct and brief.  Our strategy should be to get the Ag Committee interested WHY they should move our proposed legislation forward.

Your testimony or Memorandum should be no longer than 2 pages, double spaced.  

You should address the proposed legislation ONLY.  Don't stray off onto topics other than our HB 1151.  Stay focused.  

Briefly, like one sentence per section, any Constitutional or case law citations.  If you fill your testimony with "legalize" the committee will turn off.  We want them to listen.

This is not the time to connect dots to other related items.  

At this point of time in the legislative session it is *BILL KILL* time.  We need to give the Committee a reason for us to move ahead on the chess board.

Refrain if possible from emotional testimony and opinion.  Our legislators hear allot of it when we call and are not looking for passionate pleas during a hearing.  They typically listen to paid, objective lobbyists, professionals, and specialists. 

Remember, it has become uncommon for citizens to be pro-active in the political scene.  

Address each section of our HB1151.  Affirm or make suggestions but always give your reasons or proposed language.  Since it is crunch time if we can suggest something logical they will be able to quickly adopt or strike our comments.

If you still are perplexed with what to say I suggest three topics:

            Why our bill upholds the Constitution

            Emphasize our bill costs the taxpayers no more money than they pay right now and does not invade privacy

            That our bill does not eliminate any current programs for animal disease or identification (brands, Scrapie, BSE)

Travel time

Next, if plan to attend the hearing ensure that you account for rush hour traffic and parking off the Capitol.  When you exit at exit 105, take the first left which is Jefferson.  Go down 1 ½ blocks and make a left into the parking lot.  This is known as the P Lot.  Make sure you have $2 in quarters or more.  It costs to park in this lot.  You pay and then put the receipt on your dashboard.  Should the parking meter not work call the company and they will not fine you.  You will see a place to catch the transit bus.  Get off at the Newhouse stop.  Ask the guard to direct you to the O'Brien Building. From the parking lot to the O'Brien Building is about 30 minutes.  The bus leaves about every 12-30 minutes.  Walking time from bus stop to building is about 5-10 minutes depending how fast you walk.

Hearing Room

When you walk into the O'Brien Building you will see a screen that will tell you what hearing room our hearing will be in.  Look for the Agriculture Hearing Room.  The hearing room will open about 10 minutes before the hearing.  Before that it is locked.  See Hearing Etiquette attachment for protocol when you enter the hearing room.

When can I leave?

The Agriculture Committee will be hearing proposed legislation in addition to ours.  Please wait patiently and quietly for our turn.  After we have testified then it is acceptable to quietly gather your belongings and quietly leave.  We can all meet outside if you want to connect and hold a small rally.  

Visiting with your Legislator

This is a great time for you to visit with your Legislators.  To find out where they are located, right inside the O'Brien Building is a placard with their names and location.  It would be advisable to give them a call ahead of time to see if they have time for a brief visit.  Visiting time is usually 15 minutes a person and/or group.  Our legislators typically enjoy a visit from their constituents.  

Remember this is just the beginning

This hearing will be just the first of many hearings if HB 1151 makes it out of committee.  This will be a long process.  I have a PDF that I am putting together on the process.  It might not make it this week but I will post it as soon as it is readable.

A Special Thank You!!!

Each one of you has contributed much to the NoNAIS movement, which is really about our freedom, thank you all.  You have used your gifts and talents to bless our country and our traditional farming way of life (or rural awareness, for the urbanites amongst us).  I want to thank our out-of-state friends who have rallied with us during the last few months.  We would not be where we are today without you.  We have some new friends and organizations who have allied with us recently, embrace them warmly.  Keep up the good work.  We work hard, and play hard.  As I have said many times, "One of the blessings of NAIS creeping into our lives is that we all get to know and appreciate one another, distant or near neighbors."  

For more information

http://www.NoNAIS.org

http://www.nonaiswa.org

http://www.freetofarm.com

Blessings, May we find favor from the Most High in our endeavor.

Elisheva (Celeste )

Shepherd's Heart Farm

Snohomish, WA

elisheva at w-link.net 

360-568-8175

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