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advocating for animals
in the political arena

PVA 2004 Candidate Information
~ U.S. Congressional District 2 ~

This page contains candidate information about the candidates for U.S. Representative for Colorado Congressional District 2.

Highlights from this race: Notes:
Candidate questionnaire scores
1a. Did you grow up with animals? Yes/No
1b. If so, what kind?

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) No - I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. It was our judgement that it would be cruel to have pets in that environment.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


2a. Does your family have animals? Yes/No
2b. If so, what kind?

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes - Turtle
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) No - As a widowed empty nester who travels frequently, it would be cruel for me to have pets.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


The bills and resolutions referred to in the following questions are from the 108th (current) Congress. We thank the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for some of the legislation descriptions. For more information about any bill or resolution (including its complete text), please visit http://thomas.loc.gov.

3. The “Pet Safety and Protection Act” (S. 2346) would amend the Animal Welfare Act to ensure that all dogs and cats used by research facilities are obtained legally. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) No - Why do we need a new law to ensure that an existing law is obeyed. The proposed new law should not be necessary.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


4. The “Puppy Protection Act” (H.R. 3484) would crack down on chronic violators of humane standards and prevent relentless overbreeding by commercial dog breeders. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) No - Not necessary; reputable breeders will breed only what they can sell. We should not deal with unethical breeders.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


5. The “American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act” (H.R. 857 & S. 2352) would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption and prohibit the trade and transport of horseflesh and live horses intended for human consumption. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) No - Fraudulent business practises excepted, it is not the federal government's business to prohibit sale of horse flesh.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


6. The “Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act” (S. 736 & H.R. 1532) would authorize felony-level jail time for animal fighting, prohibit interstate commerce of cockfighting implements, and update provisions on animal seizure and disposition after arrests. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) No - Not a legitmate function of the federal government (Artical I, Section 8 of the Constitution). We should convince the public not to attend these events.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


7. Senate bill 1460 (S. 1460) and House bill 2932 (H.R. 2932) would curb overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture, which supports overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on factory farms and endangers public health. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) No - Not a legitmate function of the federal government (Artical I, Section 8 of the Constitution). We should buy our meat at reputable stores which do support such activities.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


8. In response to the threat of “mad cow disease”, the USDA recently banned the slaughter of “downed” cattle (cattle who are unable to walk) for human consumption. The “Consumer and Producer Protection Act” (H.R. 4121) would weaken this ban to allow such slaughter if the reason for the animal’s inability to walk is “fatigue, stress, obdurator nerve paralysis, obesity, or one or more broken or fractured appendages, severed tendons or ligaments, or dislocated joints.” Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Undecided
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) Yes - The original law was too stringent. Why waste an animal which does not represent a threat to anyone's health?
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


9. The “Downed Animal Protection Act” (H.R. 2519 & S. 1298) would end the use of certain nonambulatory livestock (cattle, sheep, swine, goats, or horses, mules, or other equines) in human food and require that these downed animals be humanely euthanized when presented at slaughter facilities. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) No - Too stringent; arbitrarily assumes that all "downed" animals are seriuosly diseased. Bad management, bad law.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


10. The “Truth in Tuna Labeling Act” (S. 130) would require that tuna labeled "dolphin safe" be from tuna fish caught without the deliberate harming, chasing, harassing, or netting of dolphins. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) Yes - Protecting citizens from fraud is a legitmate function of government. But fraud is already illegal. Do we really need yet another law???
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


11. House Concurrent Resolution 90 (H Con Res 90) would amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to extend the hunting season for mourning doves into their nesting period. Would you be likely to vote for this resolution? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) No
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) Undecided - I am not aware of the treaty provisions; so I cannot comment on this.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


12. The “Yellowstone Buffalo Preservation Act” (H.R. 3446) would encourage non-lethal management methods and create a moratorium on the killing of Yellowstone bison so they can freely roam federal public lands surrounding the park. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) Undecided - This appears to be micro management from Washington DC. The local folk should make this decision.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


13. H.R. 1800 would prohibit interstate commerce of steel-jaw leghold traps and interstate commerce of fur of animals caught with these devices. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) No - We should convince the public not to purchase/wear fur. It is not a legitimate government function except on federal land.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


14. Senate Concurrent Resolution 55 (S Con Res 55) and House Concurrent Resolution 216 ( H Con Res 216) would oppose resumption of commercial whaling and express opposition to the killing of whales under the guise of "scientific research." Would you be likely to vote for this resolution? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) Yes - Again, I am aginst fraud of all kinds. But, isn't fraud already illegal. Do we need yet another law?
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


15. The “Don't Feed the Bears Act” (H.R. 1472) would prohibit the intentional feeding of bears on federal public lands in order to end the hunting practice known as "bear baiting" and reduce the number of dangerous interactions between people and bears. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) Yes - On federal land, the federal government has a responsibility to manage it; and should do so responsibly.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


16. The “Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act of 2004” (H.R. 4114) would eliminate protections provided by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for 94 so-called "non-native" species of birds. This legislation would leave many species imperiled in the U.S. and around the world. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Undecided
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) Undecided - I am unaware of the provisions of the treaty; I cannot comment on this.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


17. The “Antifreeze Safety Act” (H.R. 1563) would require inclusion of a “bittering agent” in engine coolant and antifreeze. This would reduce the risk of poisoning of animals and children. Would you be likely to vote for this bill? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) Undecided - I would consider supporting if cost is low and the effectiveness of the product is not adversly affected.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


18. Would you be willing to consider factual documentation from PVA on a given issue? Yes/No/Undecided

CD2 Mark Udall (D) Yes
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) Yes - I am not against animals. I love animals. I am against big government. We animal lovers should not rely on political action to achieve our goals.
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


Please add any other comments ...

CD2 Mark Udall (D) None given
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) None given
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond


Candidate questionnaire scores
CD2 Mark Udall (D) Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 88%
CD2 Norm Olsen (L) Overall Questionnaire Response Score = 0%
CD2 Stephen Hackman (R) Did not respond

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