I got this via email yesterday:

Long Beach Press Telegram - CA
June 21, 2007
Oropeza: Neutering bill no-go
Politics: State senator says objective is noble but bill is 'too severe a solution.'
By Don Jergler, Staff writer

LONG BEACH - State Sen. Jenny Oropeza broke ranks with many Democrats on Wednesday, and voiced her opposition to a bill that would require dogs and cats to be spayed or neutered. Oropeza's public opposition comes as the bill awaits hearing in the Senate. "I oppose (Assembly Bill) 1634," the Long Beach Democrat said in a written statement. "It is too severe a solution to a noble objective. Further, I am concerned about the economic consequences for the city of Long Beach's convention business. It will hurt public safety and other vital city services."
The fallout from a last-minute switch by a pair of local Assembly members earlier this month to support legislation to require cats and dogs to be spayed or neutered by four months of age had apparently
placed Long Beach's upcoming AKC/Eukanuba National Championship show in danger of cancellation. Following an Assembly vote in which Assembly members Betty Karnette and Laura Richardson supported the bill after promising local lobbyists and tourism officials to abstain, dog show participants began to lash out at the city and the pair of Democratic legislators.
The votes by Richardson and Karnette helped assemblyman Lloyd Levine's AB 1634, called the California Healthy Pets Act, pass 41-38. Both assemblywomen said they voted for the bill in exchange for the author's promise he would make it more friendly to breeders when it returns for a vote in the Assembly.
Still, their vote had dog breeders howling mad.
Many voiced plans to boycott the show in e-mails and phone calls to the city, tourism officials and the Press-Telegram.
The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship's board of directors eventually decided against canceling its December show here.
The show is estimated to bring in 30,000 participants and have a $65 million impact on the city's economy and $850,000 in hotel bed taxes through 2014, the year through which show organizers have tentatively
scheduled dates.
Breeders argued the bill creates another tax. The bill's author said the bill is intended to save thousands of animals from being
euthanized each year.
As it is worded now, the bill would require most cats and dogs four months old and up to be spayed or neutered. Failure to do so could result in a $500 fine for owners.
Levine said the bill was needed to curb a huge population of unwanted pets that is costing state and local governments $300 million a year.
The bill includes several exceptions, including show animals, police dogs and guide dogs and animals that are too old or ill to be spayed or neutered.
"We think it's great that a state elected official is taking a position on a bill that has lots of questions but definitely has a very negative impact on our city," said Steve Goodling, president and
CEO of the Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Even hard-line Republicans had praise for Oropeza.
Long Beach Chamber President & CEO Randy Gordon said Oropeza came "to the rescue of Long Beach workers."
"At a price-tag of $65 million to small business, in my 25 years in the Chamber industry, I have never seen a bill that would be so damaging to a local economy pass with the blessing of our local
legislators," he said.
The bill must pass the Senate, then head back to the Assembly.
A representative for Sen. Alan Lowenthal said the Democrat from Long Beach has not yet taken a position on the bill.
It was unclear how or if Oropeza's opposition to the bill will affect her bid for the vacant Congressional seat.
Parke Skelton, Oropeza's campaign consultant, said the senator's stance on the bill is not related to her campaign for the 37th Congressional District seat, which Richardson is also seeking.
"It's not been a concern of the campaign at all," he said.
Don Jergler can be reached at don.jergler@presstelegram.com or (562)
499-1281