You made it up or heard a false rumor.
Just some observations...
First, the legislation specifically uses the term "certified". Wonder where the good Rep. Case came up with that terminology?? Just pulled it out of his hula skirt?? Doubtful. There's only one "organization" claiming certified product (and if memory serves me correctly, they wanted to make sure that no one else could even use that term). I'll give you three guesses as to what organization. No, it's not AMDA. Huh uh- ain't the IMA. My, oh my, but it's MAC. The same MAC that shares a building with Rep. Case's sister.
Second. What is Paul supposed to do other than deny involvement?? If he ever admitted to being involved, the industry would stomp MAC out like a cigarette butt. Paul is many things- the best of which is a master at fronting his organization and saying/doing anything to maintain it. He's also a master at being in the "paperwork trail" loop of this industry. Including legislation. I have a really hard time believing this got past him, and if it did, then he's not doing his job of maintaining a firm knowledge of everything related to this industry. And if this legislation isn't pertinent, I don't know what is. And I have a hard time believing Rep. Case wrote all of that legislation by his little lonesome without input from someone who has knowledge (or perceived knowledge) about the trade.
Third. MAC has a motive to see legislation like this introduced. Of course it needs to be tweaked to give MAC the maximum benefit, but if legislation is passed stating that only certified animals can be imported, wouldn't that be MAC's dream come true? I mean, their mandate is to "evolve into a self-financed organization, supported by industry contributions assessed as part of the fees companies pay to be certified and use the MAC label to verify that their practices and products are environmentally sound." Companies aren't exactly lining up around Nu'uanu Ave. to get MAC certified. Sounds like a good way to speed up the evolutionary process if you ask me.
Fourth. If it smells like poo and looks like poo, then it's MAC. I'm sorry, but the probability of such a coinidence as MAC sharing a building with Rep. Case's sister, who just happens to be head of The Nature Conservancy, an organization who just happens to have a seat on the MAC BOD, and poor little out of the loop MAC not having a clue as to this legislation is about the same as me getting 100 certified Blue Tangs from the Philippines. I'm sorry, but anyone with half a brain cell has to admit this looks really sketchy.[/quote]