Animal Welfare Group Urges New Jersey Voters to Choose Humane Candidates for Office

WASHINGTON (May 22, 2008)—Citing their leadership and support of animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund announced its endorsement of 13 New Jersey candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives. HSLF previously announced its endorsement of incumbent U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg in the upcoming June 3rd primary.

"In order to have humane laws, we need to elect humane lawmakers," said Michael Markarian, president of Humane Society Legislative Fund. "We urge Garden State voters to elect candidates who support the humane treatment of animals."

The slate of endorsements for the U.S. House includes nine incumbents, five of whom scored a perfect 100 on the most recent Humane Scorecard: Representatives Rush Holt (D-12th), Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd), Frank Pallone (D-6th), Albio Sires (D-13th), and Christopher Smith (R-4th). The nine incumbents—also including Representatives Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th), Bill Pascrell (D-8th), Donald Payne (D-10th), and Steven Rothman (D-9th)—combined for an average score of 91 on the Humane Scorecard, making the average score for the New Jersey delegation superior to any other comparably sized House state delegation.

HSLF also endorsed state Senator John Adler in the 3rd District race to succeed retiring Representative Jim Saxton. Adler, the current chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been instrumental in the passage of state legislation to protect animals, including a recent bill to prevent the shooting of live animals over the Internet.

In the 7th District race to succeed retiring Representative Mike Ferguson, HSLF has endorsed state Assemblywoman Linda Stender in the Democratic primary and Kate Whitman in the Republican primary. Stender has been a strong supporter of humane legislation in the Assembly, and both Stender and Whitman have voiced their support for federal policies to protect animals.

Finally, HSLF has endorsed Democrat challenger Dr. Dennis Shulman in his bid to unseat incumbent Representative Scott Garrett (R-5th). Garrett has consistently voted against common-sense animal protection policies, and has often stood alone in New Jersey in these extreme positions. Last year, he was one of only 39 members of the House—and the only one from the entire northeast—who voted against strengthening the law to combat dogfighting and cockfighting. The bill passed overwhelmingly and was signed into law by President Bush.

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

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Media contact: Heather Sullivan: 301-548-7778, hsullivan@hslf.org

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. On the web at www.hslf.org.

Paid for by Humane Society Legislative Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. HSLF, 519 C Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002.