This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
WASHINGTON - A ban on slaughtering horses that won initial approval in the House and Senate seemed in jeopardy on Wednesday as Republicans acknowledged they may kill the proposal.
Both houses of Congress approved identical provisions this year that would bar the Agriculture Department from inspecting horse meat, effectively banning the sale of such meat for human consumption.
Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-Texas, wants the prohibition removed from this year's final spending bill for agriculture programs, said aides to other members of Congress. The aides, who are members of both parties, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not supposed to discuss the work of negotiators.
At a public meeting on Tuesday of lawmakers who are writing a House-Senate compromise version of the bill, Bonilla declined to assure Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., that the horse slaughter provision would be left intact.
