On March 29, the lower house of the Missouri legislature passed a bill to sidestep the 2006 Congressional legislation prohibiting federal funding for meat inspection officers at horse slaughter plants in the United States.  This ultimately closed down the last remaining horse slaughter plants in the US and drove horses destined for human consumption to plants in Canada or Mexico.

The Missouri bill would allow the state to hire and pay for meat inspection by collecting fees from the plants that would then be paid directly to the US Department of Agriculture to fund inspectors.

The legislator who originated the bill, Republican Jim Viebrock,  states that the US ban on horse slaughter has led to a higher rates of neglect and abandonment of low value or elderly horses.  Opponents of the legislation argue instead that the economic crisis is what has led to increased problems with unwanted horses rather than the closing of plants.  

In addition to the primary focus of the bill,  wording was added in committee to prohibit citizen initiatives regulating or limiting agriculture and animal husbandry.   There is speculation that this amendment, which might be illegal under the state constitution, could be a stumbling block for approval by the Missouri senate.

In addition to this action in Missouri,  legislatures in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota are also reported to be considering measures to begin horse slaughter in those states as well.

Sources:  news-leader.com, stltoday.com, KOMU.com, thehorse.com