AB 1634 which would have mandated pets are spayed or neutered in California failed passage in its State Senate committee hearing this morning. The recent support of AB 1634 in the State Assembly by Long Beach’s Assembly members Laura Richardson and Betty Karnette prompted the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship to threaten a boycott of their annual event in Long Beach. That event promises millions of dollars in direct impacts to Long Beach. View my prior post on this issue: “Have Your Pets Spayed or Neutered.”

The Long Beach Chamber and the Long Beach Convention and Visitor’s Bureau led a team of advocates in Sacramento yesterday and today to defeat the bill. Their statements are below:

Brandon Kline, Vice President for Public Policy, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce:

“The Chamber joins with the CVB in celebrating the defeat of AB 1634 in committee this morning. We now turn our efforts to making sure this effort does not see the light of day in Sacramento again. Our efforts in Sacramento this morning were successful and we look forward to continuing with the relationships we established working to defeat the bill.”
 
“Our meetings in the past day and a half with the State’s Small Business Advocate, Senator Dave Cogdill, Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod, Senator Lowenthal, and the Governor’s office proved successful. We also are meeting today with the Governor’s legislative team and the author of the bill, Assemblymember Lloyd Levine, to discuss options for the future.”

Steve Goodling, President/CEO Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau:

“We are pleased that a variety of Long Beach leadership came together to educate legislators about this bill. This bill in the current form does not resolve the issues. It was great that the Senate decided to hold the bill for future discussions until the author can to come up with reasonable amendments.”