HSUS Blasted on Oklahoma House Floor

The Humane Society of the United States has come under fire in Oklahoma in recent years, which is to be expected in a state where agriculture is a huge industry and HSUS is constantly attacking farmers and ranchers. The state attorney general, Scott Pruitt, opened an investigation into HSUS’s fundraising about two years ago, and the former Speaker of the House has had some choice words for out-of-state groups like HSUS. And now, two state representatives have launched a bill which would undercut HSUS’s fundraising by banning animal rights groups from raising money unless the money is actually spent on in-state programs. (We’re not certain the bill is constitutional, in all fairness, but it does highlight a good point about how much money HSUS sucks out of local communities that it doesn’t give back.)

HSUS has always had a whiny and catty streak when it’s called out, but this bill has HSUS in a conniption. In response to the legislation, HSUS apparently threatened to sue the two sponsors of the bill personally. That prompted one of the two lawmakers, Rep. Scott Biggs, to denounce HSUS’s bullying tactics on the floor of the House on Thursday during a point of personal privilege.

It’s one thing for HSUS to say mean things about us or even to send the occasional nasty letter—sticks and stones, and all that. But threatening to sue public servants? That seems about as wise as attacking someone who buys ink by the barrel.