Current mood:

disappointed

no go for ferret legalization in the sunshine state
governor arnold schwarzenegger led ferret owners and ferret legalization activists in california to believe that, should a ferret legalization bill cross his desk, he would sign it, especially on the campaign trail (see Schwarzenegger Supports Ferrets about 2/3 of the way down the page for one of many examples).

turns out he went back on his word, citing too much burearocracy in the bill and a lack of an environmental impact report. there is a .pdf file of his official veto reply, and the text reads:

To the Members of the California State Senate:


I am returning Senate Bill 89 without my signature.


I love ferrets. I costarred with a ferret in Kindergarten Cop. However, this bill is far too bureaucratic and it legalizes ferrets prior to conducting an environmental impact report (EIR). I am concerned that there has not been proper study to determine whether ferrets are detrimental to the health and safety of California citizens and the environment. The EIR should be completed and evaluated as part of the decision making process before
changing the legal status of ferret possession.


For these reasons I am returning this measure without my signature.


Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger

the purpose of the bill is to grant amnesty to existing ferrets in california through application for an amnesty license. the fees generated by the amnesty licensing would go into an account, which would be able to take donations from non-amnesty applicants, to raise money to fund an EIR that will prove that domesticated ferrets are of no more threat to people and wildlife than a dog or cat. then hearings would be held to review the findings, and decide on whether or not to remove the domesticated ferret from the illegal-to-own wild animal list.

it's brilliant. the EIR funds itself and current ferret owners won't have their pets confiscated and euthanized, while everything gets sorted out towards legalization for all in a process that will need to happen either way. but this is too bureaucratic, and the governor wants the EIR first. this would have been useful to know *beforehand*.

this was going to be his one saving grace for being governor, in my mind. so much for that.