Burns Claims Reid Supported Bill Limiting Wild Horse Protection

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a well-known defender of wild horses in Nevada and the West, has been accused of supporting changes to long-standing protections for the horses—changes that have led at least 41 wild horses to the slaughterhouse.

The Controversial Burns Amendment

At the center of the issue is the controversial "Burns amendment," introduced by Sen. Conrad Burns. The amendment allows the BLM to sell wild horses to anyone, including horse traders looking to profit by selling the previously protected animals to slaughterhouses.

Burns introduced the amendment into the immense federal budget bill last fall. Burns' spokesman, James Pendleton, claimed that Reid assisted Burns in drafting the amendment despite Reid's public opposition.

"Reid was very involved with Burns in drafting the amendment," Pendleton said.

Impact on Wild Horses

The changes direct the BLM to sell off wild horses that are at least 10 years old or have been unsuccessfully put up for adoption three times. Since the amendment went into effect, 41 wild horses sold by the BLM have been slaughtered at Cavel International Inc., an Illinois slaughterhouse.

The BLM has sold about 2,000 wild horses since the amendment went into effect, delivering about half to purchasers. However, the BLM halted all sales after reports of horses being sold to a slaughterhouse, said Heather Feeney, spokeswoman for the BLM.

Senate Involvement and Denials

According to Pendleton, the two senators "worked aggressively together" to "craft the wording of the amendment" during the joint House-Senate conference committee meetings.

During a meeting between Burns and Reid, the two senators reviewed the amendment's language, and Reid "gave his support" to the wording introduced to the omnibus spending bill, Pendleton said.

However, Tessa Hafen, Reid's spokeswoman, stated Reid never supported the Burns amendment and never helped draft its language. Discussions between Reid and Burns staffers were about wild horse legislation, not the Burns amendment.

The alleged connection between Reid and the amendment surfaced when the Washington Post published a letter from Sharon Salisbury O'Toole, supporting the Burns amendment and claiming Reid was a "co-sponsor." Reid's office plans to request a correction.

"It (the letter) is incorrect," Hafen said. "Sen. Reid did not co-sponsor the amendment."

Reid's Legislative History

In the past, Reid introduced legislation to protect wild horses, such as Senate Bill 1508, which sought to increase penalties for harming wild horses, and Senate Resolution 149, honoring wild horses as national heritage resources.

Pendleton mentioned that Sen. John Ensign was aware of the amendment's language but did not participate in drafting it. Ensign, a veterinarian, plans to introduce legislation banning interstate horse shipment for slaughter.

Reps. Shelley Berkley and Jon Porter oppose the Burns Amendment, while Rep. Jim Gibbons supports finding alternative ways to prevent horse slaughter.

Current Wild Horse Population

There are over 37,000 wild horses on BLM public lands, mostly in the West. Nevada, with about 19,000, has the most wild horses and burros of any state.

Despite Reid's office denials, Pendleton stated Burns confirmed Reid's approval of the amendment during their meeting. However, no documentation supports these claims, making it a "he said-she said" situation.

There is no relationship between Burns, his staff, and O'Toole, the letter's author, Pendleton said. O'Toole's letter was posted on Burns' website, but she could not be reached for comment.

Originally Posted By The Las Vegas Sun