SALEM, OR--(Marketwire - March 18, 2011) - "Don't tax my kibble to pay for your bit!" -- That's the message a group of concerned pet owners and pet food manufacturers are hoping will resonate with legislators this Monday, when the Oregon House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee considers a bill that would impose a statewide tax to sell pet food. Revenue raised from HB 2120 would fund disease control programs for farm livestock and provide no benefit to pets or pet owners.
HEARING DETAILS:
WHAT: Oregon House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee hearing on HB 2120
WHEN: Monday, March 21st, 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Oregon State Capital, Salem
HOW: HB 2120 which would require manufacturers of cat or dog food to annually register their products with the Oregon Department of Agriculture at a significant cost for each pet food product. Money collected would be channeled through the Department of Agriculture Service Fund and would pay for a state disease control program for farm livestock. The money would not be used for activities directly related to pet food or pets.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture estimates the pet food tax proposal would authorize it to raise more than half a million dollars annually for livestock health programs at the highest level allowed under HB 2120. SPOT (Save our Pets from Onerous Taxes), a coalition of pet owners and pet food manufacturers is concerned with the precedent that would be set by HB 2120, and have formed a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/spot.or) for opponents of the bill to discuss the proposed legislation. In two days, the page has over 280 members and over 1,200 visits.
Contact Information:
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kurt Gallagher
202.367.1120