Cockfighting gets Green's juices flowing

You won't often hear me say this, but I am in agreement today with Congressman F. James Sensenbrenner.

Sensenbrenner and I think Congressman Mark Green's priorities are out of whack.

With all of the pressing issues facing Congress in the closing days of its session, Mark Green's top priority is -- a bill to ban cockfighting and dogfighting.

Green is ready to go to the mat with Sensenbrenner, and may ask the House to suspend the rules to take it up. AP reports:

In a statement, Sensenbrenner said he opposes animal fighting but that Congress should spend its remaining days on more important issues, such as border security, terrorist tribunals, and updating foreign intelligence surveillance laws.

"Trying to ram-through animal fighting legislation with these issues outstanding would win the prize for 'misplaced priorities,"' he said.

It's hard to argue with that, especially since cockfighting already is banned in every state except Louisiana and New Mexico. All 50 states ban dogfighting.

What is it about this issue that gets Green so worked up? It makes you wonder if there's an organization like the Anti-Cockfighting Political Action Committee pushing the bill, in addition to the Humane Society.

Has anyone ever seen a dogfight or cockfight in Wisconsin? Have you even heard about one?

This little dustup with the chairman is just the latest in along list of misplaced priorities for Green.

He's voted for Bush budgets with trillions of dollars in tax breaks for the richest Americans, and billions for big oil, taking the US from its biggest surplus to its deepest debt ever. At the same time, he's voted to cut vital programs that would help Wisconsin famililes -- student loans, health care for seniors, aid to farmers, veterans benefits. He's voted eight times against raising the minimum wage.

All in a day's work. Our man in Washington.

UPDATE: A dog-loving friend says there is dogfighting in Wisconsin. It's already illegal, however, just like gay marriage, so we probably don't need a federal law or a constitutional amendment.

UPDATE 2: Hulk Hogan's for the bill, even though it could end his career.

Almost forgot: On the state level, Green's top priority is trying to get kooky part-time lecturerer Kevin Barrett fired. Cheap thrills, and cheap headlines.