American Horse Council Press Release
Contact: American Horse Council
AHC@horsecouncil.org

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 2007

Democrats Will Control 110th Congress

WASHINGTON, DC –The 110th Congress, which starts in January 2007, will be controlled by the Democrats, at least by the numbers. The November elections ended Republican control of Congress, sweeping in new Members, new Committee Chairs and new leaders. Whether it will sweep out the partisan gridlock that has characterized the last few Congresses remains to be seen.

The breakdown in the House of Representatives will be 230 Democrats and 196 Republican - a 34 seat cushion.

“But that margin looks smaller when you consider that many of the new Democrats are moderate-to-conservative, so-called ‘Blue Dogs,’” said AHC President Jay Hickey. “They may become an important block of votes to bridge the partisan gap and help get things moving next year.”

The Senate margin will be razor thin, with 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans and 2 Independents (Senators Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernie Saunders of Vermont). Since those two Independents will caucus with the Democrats that gives them the majority.

“With such close margins, the Members of the House and Senate will have to work together to get anything done, said Hickey.” Although the war in Iraq overshadowed everything in the November election, another issue was the electorate’s hope that Congress will ‘tend to the nation’s business.’ Bi-partisan cooperation will be necessary to accomplish that.”

The new leadership in the House includes Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of California and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland. Congressman John Boehner of Ohio is the new House Minority Leader and Congressman Roy Blunt of Missouri is the Minority Whip.

Senator Harry Reid of Nevada is the New Senate Majority Leader and Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois is the Majority Whip. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will be the Minority Leader and Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi will be the Minority Whip.

There will be all new Committee Chairs in both the House and Senate.

“We have a new Congress, with new members, new leaders and a new situation,” said Hickey. “But, like all industries, we will deal with it. The horse industry is an important part of the nation’s economic, sporting and recreation life. It has an economic effect in all areas. We just have to be sure that Congress continues to recognize that.”

With a new Congress starting in January many of the issues that were not completed in 2006 will still be on the industry’s wish list.

While the Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act was finally passed after a decade of consideration and the protections of the Animal Enterprise Protection Act expanded, other issues remain.

“Certainly tax equity for horse owners will be important,” said Hickey. “Reducing the capitol gains holding period for horses used in an owner’s business from 24 to 12 months and placing all race horses in the three-year category for depreciation are high on the list.”

Comprehensive immigration reform still faces Congress.

“The horse industry relies on foreign workers in both our agricultural activities and non-agricultural activities. Ensuring the industry can continue to bring in such workers will be a major goal,” said Hickey. “The agricultural industry laid a good foundation for such reform as the Agjobs Bill and that will be pushed again next Congress.”

The next Congress will take up a new Farm Bill, as it does every five years. Funds for equine research and consolidating the hodge-podge of federal programs that provide funding for disaster relief will be an important component of the Farm Bill.

“The industry made a good start in the 108th Congress to make horses eligible for federal disaster assistance, just like other livestock and commodities when Senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning (R-KY) were able to pass legislation repealing the 1949 law that limited assistance to ‘horses used for food or fiber and the production of food and fiber’,” noted Hickey. “But more work will have to be done to put horses on the same level as other livestock. The Farm Bill should provide that opportunity.”

In the recreation area, the “Right-to-Ride” bill still has to be passed. This bill would require federal agencies to consider the historic and traditional use of pack and saddle stock on public lands before excluding recreational riders.

“Congressman George Radanovich (R-CA) has been able to pass this bill twice in the House. But the Senate has been a stumbling block. We need to get more personal contacts by riders to Senators about how important this bill is to us,” said Kevin McColaugh, the AHC’s Director of Recreation.

As the national association representing all segments of the horse industry in Washington, D.C., the American Horse Council works daily to represent equine interests and investments. Organized in 1969, the AHC promotes and protects the industry by communicating with Congress, federal agencies, the media and the industry on behalf of all horse related interests each and every day.

The AHC is member supported by individuals and organizations representing virtually every facet of the horse world from owners, breeders, veterinarians, farriers, breed registries and horsemen's associations to horse shows, race tracks, rodeos, commercial suppliers and state horse councils.