WASHINGTON – Why is freshman Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) attempting to regulate how horses are hauled? The Baltimore Sun’s John Fritze reports that Harris has tucked a new regulation into a transportation bill which would outlaw the use double decked horse trailers.
Proponents of Harris’ proposal admit that the USDA is unable to adequately enforce regulations already in place. Why would Harris, an staunch conservative and advocate of federalism, propose a law which proponents admit will be difficult to enforce and which could (and should) be handled by the states?
Maryland already prohibits the use of such trailers. The owners of valuable livestock are unlikely to risk the lives or health of their animals to save in transportation costs.
The next time that Harris talks to constituents about curtailing the power of the federal government, perhaps someone should ask him to justify this proposal.
Cattle and other livestock are hauled in over/under, or double-deck trailers, to processing plants in order to save money. They need to haul a large number of livestock at one time, and have to travel long distances from ranch to processing plant or feedlot. Horses, on the other hand, are usually not transported in such large numbers. Why this is even an issue is confusing. Seems as if Rep. Harris went looking for a problem to fit his solution.