Illinois House Rejects Horse Slaughter Bill

Legislation to reinstate the horse slaughter industry in Illinois failed to pass that state's House of Representatives on Wednesday because the measure did not earn the 60 votes necessary for passage. Sponsored by Rep. Jim Sacia, HB 0583 would amend the Illinois Horse Meat Act to repeal a provision that prohibits the slaughter of horses for human consumption. It would also expand the state's Animals Intended for Food Act to include horses. Because the vote was stopped, the option remains to call for another vote during the current legislative session. The bill is the first attempt to re-establish the slaughter industry in Illinois since 2007, when lawmakers banned horse processing, thereby shutting down a plant in DeKalb. The Horse