Fate of N.J. pig-crate bill may hinge on Christie's aspirations

Few if any New Jersey pigs may be affected by Gov. Christie's decision, due Monday, on a bill to prohibit a farming practice of confining pregnant sows in cages so narrow they can't turn around.

But the bill to ban gestation crates has drawn national attention - not just to the welfare of pigs, but to Christie's presidential prospects.

"There is simply no reason for Gov. Christie not to sign it. The only reason is Iowa," said Matt Dominguez, public policy manager for farm animal protection at the Humane Society of the United States.

Iowa, the state that ranks first in pork production, holds the first presidential caucus. Christie, who is considering a run for president in 2016, visited the state four times between July and October as chairman of the Republican Governors Association; one Iowa pork producer has told news outlets that during one of those visits, Christie indicated he intended to veto the bill.

The possibility that Iowa would play a role in Christie's position was skewered by comedian Jon Stewart last week.

"I guess you can't ignore the citizens of Iowa who elected you governor of New Jersey," Stewart said on The Daily Show. "Wait a minute. What's going on here?"

Christie vetoed a similar measure last year, saying state agriculture officials had already developed humane standards for livestock.

But last month, the Legislature again passed a bill, setting the stage for another decision by Christie. A spokesman said last week Christie was reviewing the legislation.

The governor's decision will follow a high-profile push for the bill by the Humane Society, which argues the crates are abusive. The group has enlisted celebrities including Danny DeVito in a letter-writing campaign, commissioned polls by the Mason Dixon firm - including one that found some Republican Iowa caucus voters would view Christie more favorably if he signed the bill - and invited lawmakers to test human-size crates at the New Jersey Statehouse.

The lobbying effort, however, has not highlighted the plight of New Jersey pigs: It's unclear whether any pig farmers in the state use the crates - a point the pork industry has seized upon.

"Why is [the Humane Society] spending so much time and effort to get a bill approved that will affect zero hog farmers?" asked Dave Warner, spokesman for the National Pork Producers Council.

The council argues that the crates ensure the health of pigs - in part, Warner said, by preventing them from defecating in their food supply - and has hired a lobbyist in Trenton to oppose the bill.

Dominguez said legislation was needed for the sake of future pigs: "We want to be sure that no pig ever has to endure her entire life being confined in a gestation crate in New Jersey."

The bill also has drawn opposition from the Center for Consumer Freedom, a nonprofit that receives funding from the restaurant industry and is run by Richard Berman's communications firm in Washington.

The center - which describes its mission as "protecting consumer choices" - has been running a radio ad critical of the Humane Society and has placed an ad in the Trentonian newspaper.

The ad cites five states that have "rejected legislation attacking pork farmers" and urges people to "tell Gov. Christie to continue to stand with farmers and veterinarians, not radical activists." If Christie signs the bill, New Jersey would be the 10th state to ban gestation crates, according to the Humane Society.

Dominguez, who said the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association supports the bill, accused the center of "attacking the messenger."

State Sen. Ray Lesniak (D., Union), who sponsored the bill, said he expected Christie to veto it, based on his past actions and "presidential aspirations," but was holding out hope the governor might prove him wrong.

If Christie doesn't sign the bill, Lesniak, who led an unsuccessful effort to override the governor's previous veto, promised "a campaign like none that has ever been seen before."