New Jersey gestation crate bill vetoed by Gov. Chris Christie

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  Tim Larsen/State of New Jersey

  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a bill that would outlaw the use of gestation crates in the state.

  From WATTAgNet:
  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a bill that would outlaw the use of gestation crates in the state.  Christie’s veto of the bill has drawn praise from pig industry leaders and officials in Iowa, but criticism from some in his home state.
  The bill had bipartisan support in the New Jersey legislature, but Christie dismissed the bill, saying the legislation to ban gestation crates was a “solution in search of a problem.” There are only about 300 swine operations in New Jersey, most of which already do not use the crates.
  Christie, who vetoed a similar bill in 2013, stated that the crate issue should be left to experts on the New Jersey Board of Agriculture who better understand how the crates impact animal well-being instead of by elected officials who want to use the issue for political reasons.
  Critics believe the veto may have been done so Christie can gain favor in Iowa, the nation’s largest pork producing state, and also the home of the first presidential caucus. Christie has not officially declared his candidacy for the presidency, but his name has surfaced as a potential Republican nominee.
  Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, praised Christie for his willingness to listen to people outside of the animal rights activist community that are familiar with how the crates can actually improve animal welfare.
  “I give him credit for listening to and understanding that this is something we’re very concerned about and that does impact consumers as well because if these baby pigs are crushed and die, that means there are fewer pigs and that impacts the price of pork,” said Branstad.
  New Jersey  Sen. Raymond Lesniak, a Democrat and animal rights activist, sponsored the bill. He said lawmakers will try to override the veto in 2015.