Massachusetts Greyhound Protection Act

Last updated
Question 3
Massachusetts Greyhound Protection Act
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes1,662,35256.05%
Light brown x.svgNo1,303,70843.95%
Valid votes2,966,060100.00%
Invalid or blank votes00.00%
Total votes2,966,060100.00%

MA Question 3 2008 Counties.svg
MA Question 3 2008 Municipalities.svg
MA Question 3 2008.svg

The Greyhound Protection Act is a Massachusetts statute that gradually eliminated commercial dog racing by 2010. It was enacted as Question 3 on the November 4, 2008 ballot in Massachusetts.

Contents

It shut down the state's two tracks, Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park and Wonderland Greyhound Park in Revere, by January 1, 2010. Violators face minimum fines of $20,000 by the State Racing Commission.

Specific provisions in the initiative

Details of the statute are:

Legislative history

Past initiative

A similar initiative made the ballot in 2000, the racing industry opposed it with television ads arguing that the 2000 initiative would lead to the loss of 1,500 jobs along with $10 million in pari-mutuel betting and other taxes.

Petition drive

Supporters submitted 45,000 signatures to qualify the measure for the November 2008 ballot on June 17. The state legislature had until the first Wednesday in May to make the proposals law. Without the legislature's support, proponents had until June 18 to gather another 11,099 signatures. [1] The proponents claimed to have gathered 100,000 signatures, guaranteeing that the initiative would meet the requirements. [2]

Lawsuit to strike from ballot

Opponents filed a lawsuit in March saying the measure is unfit for the ballot because it singles out the two tracks, when it should apply to the whole state. The Supreme Judicial Court took the matter under advisement after a hearing May 7. [3]

On July 15, the court rejected the challenge by the initiative's opponents, which means that unless other lawsuits are filed and are successful, the initiative will appear on the November ballot.

The high court rejected the claim that the initiative shouldn't be on a statewide ballot because it was about two local racetracks by saying that racing amounts to a statewide concern. [4]

Results

Greyhound Protection Act [5] [6]
ChoiceVotes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes1,662,35256.05
No1,303,70843.95
Valid votes2,966,06095.59
Invalid or blank votes136,9354.41
Total votes3,102,995100.00
Registered voters/turnout4,220,48873.52

Supporters

The Committee to Protect Dogs was the official ballot committee of the initiative.

In addition to Committee to Protect Dogs, the Greyhound Protection Act was endorsed by:

Arguments for initiative

Arguments in favor of the initiative that were made by its supporters include: [10]

Funding

According to campaign finance reports, as of November 1, 2008 the Committee to Protect Dogs has raised approximately $903,000 and has $9,169.09 remaining. [11] Grey2k shows no filings for 2008. Between 2005 - 2007 they filed as having received no donations or expenditures and $18,490.21 in liabilities although they appear to have donated approx $55,000 and well over $100,000 in staff and services to the committee since 2005. [12]

Opponents

The official ballot committee opposed to the initiative was The Massachusetts Animal Interest Coalition which was mainly made up of the owners of the two tracks that would be shut down, including George Carney, who owned the Raynham-Taunton track for the previous 40 years, and Charles Sarkis, owner of the Wonderland track.

Arguments against initiative

Arguments that were made against the initiative include:

Newspaper editorial boards against

Funding

According to campaign finance reports, as of November 1, 2008 The Massachusetts Animal Interest Coalition had raised approximately $436,000 and has $7,720.38 remaining. It also received approx $215,000 in in-kind donations such as staff, postage, etc.. mainly from the 2 race tracks. They also had an additional $3,000 in liabilities. [14]

See also

Sources

The original version of this article was taken from Ballotpedia's article about the Massachusetts Greyhound Protection Act

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greyhound</span> Dog breed

The EnglishGreyhound, or simply the Greyhound, is a breed of dog, a sighthound which has been bred for coursing, greyhound racing and hunting. Since the rise in large-scale adoption of retired racing Greyhounds, the breed has seen a resurgence in popularity as a family pet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greyhound racing</span> Canine racing sport involving the Greyhound dog breed

Greyhound racing is an organized, competitive sport in which greyhounds are raced around a track. There are two forms of greyhound racing, track racing and coursing; the latter is now banned in most countries. Track racing uses an artificial lure that travels ahead of the greyhounds on a rail until the greyhounds cross the finish line. As with horse racing, greyhound races often allow the public to bet on the outcome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raynham, Massachusetts</span> Town in Massachusetts, United States

Raynham is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located approximately 32 miles (51 km) south of Boston and 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Providence, Rhode Island. The population was 15,082 at the 2020 census. It has one village, Raynham Center.

Carla Howell is an American politician, small government advocate and activist. She was the Libertarian Party of Massachusetts candidate for Massachusetts State Auditor in 1998, U.S. Senate in 2000, and Governor in 2002. She then served in multiple leadership positions in the U.S. Libertarian Party. She has also organized tax-cut initiative ballot measures in Massachusetts and worked for the Libertarian National Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hare coursing</span> Competitive activity where sighthounds pursue hares

Hare coursing is the pursuit of hares with greyhounds and other sighthounds, which chase the hare by sight, not by scent.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is an American nonprofit organization that focuses on animal welfare and opposes animal-related cruelties of national scope. It uses strategies that are beyond the abilities of local organizations. It works on issues including pets, wildlife, farm animals, horses and other equines, and animals used in research, testing and education. As of 2001, the group's major campaigns targeted factory farming, hunting, the fur trade, puppy mills, and wildlife abuse.

Wonderland Greyhound Park was a greyhound racing track located in Revere, Massachusetts formerly owned by the Westwood Group. It was constructed on the site of the former Wonderland Amusement Park. Wonderland opened on June 12, 1935, and formerly offered 361 races during its 100-day, April to September racing period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Massachusetts Question 2</span> Ballot measure in Massachusetts

The Sensible Marijuana Policy Initiative, also known as Massachusetts Ballot Question 2, was an initiated state statute that replaced prior criminal penalties with new civil penalties on adults possessing an ounce or less of marijuana. The initiative appeared on the November 4, 2008, ballot in Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Massachusetts Question 1</span> Ballot measure in Massachusetts

The State Income Tax Repeal, also known as Massachusetts Question 1, was one of the 2008 ballot measures that appeared on the November 4, 2008 ballot in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Voters were asked whether or not they approved of the proposed measure which, if it had passed, would have ended the 5.3% income tax in Massachusetts on wages, interest, dividends and capital gains. Ultimately, Massachusetts voters defeated Question 1 by a wide margin, with approximately 70% opposed versus 30% in favor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Massachusetts Question 1</span> Ballot measure in Massachusetts repealing a sales tax on alcohol

The No Sales Tax for Alcohol Question, also known as Question 1, was on the November 2, 2010 ballot in Massachusetts. The measure asked voters whether to repeal a sales tax on alcohol sales. The ballot measure for the 2010 ballot was added after the Massachusetts State Legislature increased the sales tax in the state from 5% to 6.25% and eliminated an exemption for alcohol sold in liquor stores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massachusetts Sales Tax Relief Act</span> Ballot measure in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Question 3, filed under the name, the 3 percent Sales Tax Relief Act, appears on the November 2, 2010 ballot in the state of Massachusetts as an initiative. The measure, if enacted by voters, would reduce the state sales tax rate from 6.25 to 3 percent. The measure is being sponsored by the Alliance to Roll Back Taxes headed by Carla Howell. The measure would be enacted into a law 30 days after the election if approved by voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 California Proposition 20</span> Approved Congressional Redistricting Initiative

A California Congressional Redistricting Initiative, Proposition 20 was on the November 2, 2010 ballot in California. It was approved by 61.2% of voters. Election officials announced on May 5 that the proposition had collected sufficient signatures to qualify for the ballot. The measure is known by its supporters as the VOTERS FIRST Act for Congress.

GREY2K USA Worldwide is an American non-profit political lobbying organization dedicated to passing stronger greyhound protection laws and ending dog racing. It was founded in March 2001 as Grey2K and changed its name in 2013 to reflect an international focus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Massachusetts Question 1</span> Ballot measure in Massachusetts implementing right to repair laws for vehicles

The Massachusetts "Right to Repair" Initiative (2012), also known as Question 1, appeared on the Massachusetts 2012 general election ballot as an initiated state statute. The Right to Repair proposal was to require vehicle owners and independent repair facilities in Massachusetts to have access to the same vehicle diagnostic and repair information made available to the manufacturers' Massachusetts dealers and authorized repair facilities. The initiative passed with overwhelming voter support on November 6, 2012, with 86% for and 14% against. The measure, originally filed four times with the Massachusetts Attorney General, was filed by Arthur W. Kinsman, and was assigned initiative numbers 11–17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Massachusetts Question 3</span> Ballot measure in Massachusetts legalizing medical marijuana

The Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative, appeared as the third question on the state's 2012 ballot as an indirect initiated state statute. The measure allows cannabis to be used for medical purposes in the state. The initiative—backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, and the Committee for Compassionate Medicine—was filed with proponents turning in the required signatures to the Massachusetts Attorney General's office by the August 3, 2011 deadline. Those signatures were needed for the required ten qualified voters who submitted the original petition to put forward the full text of the law they want enacted. The initiative passed with support from 63% of state voters.

Legal forms of gambling in the U.S. state of Massachusetts include casinos, sports betting, parimutuel wagering on horse racing, the Massachusetts Lottery, and charitable gaming. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission regulates commercial operations under state jurisdiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Massachusetts Question 3</span>

An Act to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals, more commonly known as Question 3, was the third initiative on the 2016 Massachusetts ballot. The measure requires Massachusetts farmers to give chickens, pigs, and calves enough room to turn around, stand up, lie down, and fully extend their limbs. It also prohibits the sale of eggs or meat from animals raised in conditions that did not meet these standards.

Charles Frederick Sarkis was an American restaurateur and dog racetrack owner who founded the Back Bay Restaurant Group and owned Wonderland Greyhound Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Idaho Proposition 1</span>

Idaho Proposition 1 (2018) was a ballot initiative titled the "Save Horse Racing in Idaho Act". Voters failed to pass the initiative during the General Election held on November 6, 2018; the proposition would have allowed a limited number of Idaho racetracks to operate historical racing gaming terminals. Proposition 1 was an effort to restore a law that previously allowed historical racing in Idaho.

Greyhound racing in the United States is a sport and parimutuel gambling activity. The industry is regulated by state or local law and greyhound care is regulated by the American Greyhound Council (AGC) and the National Greyhound Association.

References

  1. Boston.com: "Four ballot petitions clear 1st obstacle," Nov 24, 2007
  2. HSUS: "Animal Protection Group Turns in 100,000 Signatures on Greyhound Protection Act Petition" Archived 2007-12-15 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Boston.com: "Supporters amass signatures for dog racing ban," June 18, 2008
  4. Associated Press: "Court rejects challenge to dog-racing initiative", July 15, 2008
  5. "2008 Return of Votes Complete" (PDF). Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  6. "Enrollment Breakdown as of 15 October 2008" (PDF). Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  7. Springfield Republican
  8. Blue Mass Group
  9. The Committee to Protect Dogs: "Endorsements"
  10. Committee to Protect Dogs "Report on Commercial Dog Racing in Massachusetts"
  11. Committee to protect dogs "campaign finance reports" Archived 2008-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Grey2k "campaign finance reports" Archived 2008-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
  13. {{cite ... <Boston Globe "Editorial"|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024084123/https://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2008/10/21/no_on_question_3/}}
  14. The Massachusetts Animal Interest Coalition "campaign finance reports" Archived 2009-12-16 at the Wayback Machine