From Gary Payne

To all fans that have helped today, I hope I haven't forgotten anyone....as the volume of Email the last 5 days is incredible! The Dist. No. 2 fans, and CT in particular, thank you for your part in the letter writing campaign. We received similar assistance from several fans in other states. Although I have spoken to or left messages with most of the committee members, and my own Rep. I do not have a clear idea of where this will go. My own Rep advised that it is "likely" to make it thru committee as Ms Urban will likely succeed in piggybacking the bill to a more popular bill. She warned that we may have only "just begun" this fight. Bob Commerford and I talked several times today. He was at the capital knocking on doors all day. He intends to take his elephants to the steps of the capital in Hartford Wednesday morning at 9am for a press conference. At 5 pm today, the authoritys told him they considered the elephants to be dangerous and wanted to know how they would be controlled. Ironically Commerford will have them at the Hartford Civic Center (for rides) during his Petting Zoo this very weekend.....right down the street. (No problem there!) Today there were dozens of phone calls organized by the CT fans to the legislators. One of the fans got Ms Diana Urban (sponsor of the bill and a PETA sympathizer if not a member) to the phone.... Ms Urban's temper exploded at being questioned and comparison made to her own use of spurs, whips, and bits on her horses. We are counting on her temper to discredit her in the long run. While I'd prefer to see this die in committee, there is a very real possibility of a vote in the full house in the not too distant future. For now - all we can do is wait for the vote. Gary Cooper is monitoring the Wednesday developments and will call me. I will be literally at the Circus in Atlantic City. I will be away from Email from March 21 thru March 25. I can be reached on my cell phone @ 860-833-7925 Sincere regards, Gary C. Payne