BREAKING!
The Associated Press reports:
[Governor Susana] Martinez said Friday she plans to send a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking it not to approve a Roswell meat company’s request for inspections that would allow it to operate.Prior to this Statement by Governor Martinez, Capitol Report, New Mexico reported:
Valley Meat Co. has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its 7,300-square-foot plant outside of town.
“Despite the federal government’s decision to legalize horse slaughter for human consumption, I believe creating a horse slaughtering industry in New Mexico is wrong and I am strongly opposed,” Martinez said in a statement.
In the past few weeks two shocking stories concerning horses in New Mexico made headlines.
First, the Albuquerque Journal came out with graphic photos of four starving horses found suffering at a Los Lunas feedlot.
Second, the New York Times ran a blistering exposé of horse racing abuse across the country and pointed at New Mexico as having the worst safety record in the nation, alleging that horses often are drugged to such dangerous levels that they risk breaking down and being destroyed (not to mention the danger to jockeys).
Capitol Report New Mexico caught up with Gov. Susana Martinez earlier this week and asked her about both stories, starting with the Los Lunas incident and then asking the governor about her office calling for a report from the state Racing Commission concerning — among other things — improved drug testing for race horses.
Here’s what she said:
In the case of the emaciated horses in Los Lunas, the state Livestock Board is coming under fire and district attorney Lemuel Martinez is looking into filing criminal charges.SOURCES
As for the racing commission, its monthly hearing is scheduled for Thursday (April 19).
Capitol News, New Mexico
http://www.capitolreportnewmexico.com/?p=9066
Associated Press
http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/13/3552599/nm-governor-asks-feds-to-stop.html
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