The Senate passed the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act last night by unanimous consent. That’s right, unanimous. No senator, Democrat or Republican, spoke up to block this sweeping legislation that labels non-violent activists as “terrorists.”
You can see for yourself how it was fast-tracked by searching on Thomas for S. 3880:
9/8/2006:
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
9/30/2006:
Senate Committee on the Judiciary discharged by Unanimous Consent.
9/30/2006:
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
9/30/2006:
S.AMDT.5115 Amendment SA 5115 proposed by Senator Frist for Senator Feinstein.
To provide a complete substitute.
9/30/2006:
S.AMDT.5115 Amendment SA 5115 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
9/30/2006:
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
It’s clear there was a lot of pressure by some lawmakers, and the industry groups that support them, to get this through before the elections.
The House counterpart, HR 4239, is still pending.