What Your $19 Per Month Buys In Nashville

Ever wonder how the Humane Society of the United States (not to be confused with your local shelter) gets those animal bills to pass in your state? Or what they really do with that $19 per month you donate to them? Have a look at how they spend the money in Tennessee.

According to the Tennessee Ethics Commission the Humane Society of the United States currently has FIVE, count 'em 5, lobbyists in Nashville. And their buddies the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) also has five. They even share a couple of lobbyists. How cozy.

Here's a look at them.

HSUS lobbyists:
Leighann McCollum
David McMahan
Anna Richardson
Caroline Straight
Beth Winstead       

ASPCA lobbyists:
David McMahan
Anna Richardson
Sherry Rout
Caroline Straight
Beth Winstead

You can also add Eric Swafford to this list for HSUS. He is a former state representative who was hired as an "outreach director" to work on the Tennessee Walking Horse people.

As far as we know, HSUS and ASPCA usually have one lobbyist each in the state. The halls in the legislature in Nashville must be so thick with animal rights lobbyists right now that they're falling over each other.

We also note that David McMahan's wife is the staff contact for the Chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, Rep. Lollar, which puts them in a juicy position, doesn't it?

Still think HSUS doesn't lobby or get its hands dirty with politics?

Your state probably has an ethics commission or something similar where lobbyists are required to register. Check and see how many lobbyists HSUS and ASPCA have in your state. If your representatives aren't listening to you maybe it's because they're listening to the lobbyists.