In Oregon Political Battle, Democrats Object to 'PEACE'

Oregon may soon vote on whether cows, fish, and lab rats should be treated more like cats and dogs—and Democrats are scrambling to say they want no part of it. Initiative Petition 28, which appears on track for the November ballot, would extend the state's anti-cruelty protections to all animals, effectively banning hunting, fishing, trapping, conventional livestock farming, lethal pest control, and most animal research, the New York Times reports. Organizer David Michelson, a vegan substitute teacher, says the goal is simple: "a system where we're not killing or hurting animals anymore."

Every Democrat in the state house has come out in opposition of IP28, per KOBI, while Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek, up for re-election, has publicly opposed the measure as a threat to "the people who feed our communities." Still, Republicans are seizing on the measure to portray Democrats as extreme. GOP gubernatorial nominee Christine Drazan calls it "an all out assault on Oregonians' way of life pushed by Tina Kotek's allies." The People for the Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions (PEACE) Act has already surpassed the signature threshold, aided by over $300,000 in donations, including from PETA. But even supporters expect it will fail at the ballot box, hoping instead that it changes attitudes, per Snopes.com.