Rabies Tax Update

A few people have asked what's happening with the rabies bills. They keep being pushed back in their committees.

actions taken on sb3850

Assigned to Gen. Sub of: S. FW&M Comm.

actions taken on hb3834

Action Def. in Finance, Ways & Means Committee to last calendar

Since the bills would add/subtract money from the state budget, they've become tied up with the budget. They may not be considered until something is decided about the bigger budget, especially in the House Finance, Ways & Means committee where the bill isn't scheduled to be heard until the "last calendar." But they can still hear it that day, vote on it, pass it and rush it up to the floor to pass it.

Please make some more phone calls and let the committee members know that you OPPOSE the rabies tax bills. Ask them to vote NO on these bills. Talk to your vets. Talk to your local animal shelters and rescues. They're going to be especially hard-hit by these bills since they vaccinate so many animals. This law would effect their budgets since it would cost more to vaccinate animals. Ask them to call committee members to oppose these bills.

You can find your own legislators by going to the Tennessee General

Assembly web site and looking on the righthand side of the page:

http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/ There’s a column with the

heading “Find My Legislator.” Just type in your street address and

city. It will bring up your local representative and state senator.

You can contact them about anything that concerns you but they may

not be on a particular committee that is considering a bill.

However, they will be voting on each bill that makes it to the House

or Senate floor so it’s always a good idea to drop them a line or try

to speak to them.

To write to the committee members about the rabies tax bill, here’s a

sample letter. The committee members are listed below with their

phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Please contact them and ask

them to oppose this bill!

Rabies tax sample letter (formal letter)

Your name

address

phone number

e-mail address

date

State Senator Dear Senator Doe:

The Honorable John Doe

State Senator

(Nashville mailing address)

or

State Representative Dear Representative Doe:

The Honorable John Doe

State Representative

(Nashville mailing address)

Salutation: (Dear Senator ___ or Representative ___:)

I’m writing you because I’m concerned about (SB 3850 for the Senate

or HB 3834 for the House). This is the rabies bill that you are

considering in the Finance, Ways & Means Committee. This bill would

add a minimum of $1 and possibly more to rabies vaccinations in the

state. I would like to ask you to oppose this bill.

[Reasons why you oppose the bill. Reasons why the legislator should

oppose.]

I agree with the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association that adding

these fees to rabies vaccinations will reduce the number of people

who vaccinate their pets against rabies.

In addition, many communities already add additional fees and

licenses to vaccinated animals which makes it expensive to do the

right thing and give your pet good veterinary care. These fees would

only add to this burden.

As proposed with these fees, the pet owners who are vaccinating their

pets would carry the entire cost of the state’s rabies program. This

would place an unfair tax burden on responsible pet owners.

Finally, this is a public health and safety issue. If fewer people

vaccinate their pets there will be a greater chance that someone in

Tennessee will contract rabies.

Please oppose the rabies bill when it comes before your committee.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

name

clubs

positions held

Members of the Senate Finance, Ways & Means Committee

Sen. Randy McNally, Chair - 615-741-6806,

sen.randy.mcnally@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Douglas Henry, Vice-Chair - 615-741-3291,

sen.douglas.henry@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Tim Burchett, Secretary - 615-741-1766,

sen.tim.burchett@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Diane Black - 615-741-1999, sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Joe Haynes - 615-6679, sen.joe.haynes@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Roy Herron - 615-741-4576, sen.roy.herron@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Jim Kyle - 615-741-4167, sen.jim.kyle@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Mark Norris - 615-741-1967, sen.mark.norris@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Doug Overbey - 615-741-0981, sen.doug.overbey@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Bo Watson - 615-741-3227, sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov

Sen. Jamie Woodson - 615-741-1648, sen.jamie.woodson@capitol.tn.gov

Members of the House Finance, Ways & Means Committee

Craig Fitzhugh, Chair - (615) 741-2134 ,

rep.craig.fitzhugh@capitol.tn.gov

Charles Sargent, Vice-Chair - (615) 741-6808,

rep.charles.sargent@capitol.tn.gov

Johnny Shaw, Secretary - (615) 741-4538, rep.johnny.shaw@capitol.tn.gov

Joe Armstrong - (615) 741-0768, rep.joe.armstrong@capitol.tn.gov

Stratton Bone - (615) 741-7086, rep.stratton.bone@capitol.tn.gov

Harry Brooks - (615) 741-6879, rep.harry.brooks@capitol.tn.gov

Kevin Brooks - (615) 741-1350, rep.kevin.brooks@capitol.tn.gov

Tommie Brown - (615) 741-4374, rep.tommie.brown@capitol.tn.gov

Glen Casada - (615) 741-4389rep.glen.casada@capitol.tn.gov

Kent Coleman - (615) 741-6829, rep.kent.coleman@capitol.tn.gov

Lois DeBerry - (615) 741-3830, rep.lois.deberry@capitol.tn.gov

Bill Dunn - (615) 741-1721, rep.bill.dunn@capitol.tn.gov

Jimmy Eldridge - (615) 741-7475, rep.jimmy.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov

Michael Harrison - (615) 741-7480, rep.mike.harrison@capitol.tn.gov

Curtis Johnson - (615) 741-4341, rep.curtis.johnson@capitol.tn.gov

Mark Maddox - (615) 741-7847, rep.mark.maddox@capitol.tn.gov

Debra Maggart - (615) 741-3893, rep.debra.maggart@capitol.tn.gov

Steve McDaniel - (615) 741-0750, rep.steve.mcdaniel@capitol.tn.gov

Steve McManus - (615) 741-1920, rep.steve.mcmanus@capitol.tn.gov

Larry Miller - (615) 741-4453, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov

Richard Montgomery - (615) 741-5981,

rep.richard.montgomery@capitol.tn.gov

Jason Mumpower - (615) 741-2050, rep.jason.mumpower@capitol.tn.gov

Jimmy Naifeh - (615) 741-3774, spk.eme.jimmy.naifeh@capitol.tn.gov

Gary Odom - (615) 741-4410, rep.gary.odom@capitol.tn.gov

Dennis Roach - (615) 741-2534, rep.dennis.roach@capitol.tn.gov

Donna Rowland - (615) 741-2804, rep.donna.rowland@capitol.tn.gov

Janis Sontany - (615) 741-6861, rep.janis.sontany@capitol.tn.gov

Harry Tindell - (615) 741-2031, rep.harry.tindell@capitol.tn.gov

Mike Turner - (615) 741-3229, rep.mike.turner@capitol.tn.gov

Les Winningham - (615) 741-6852, rep.leslie.winningham@capitol.tn.gov