By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis – The Missouri House has endorsed legislation that would allow the slaughter of horses for human consumption.
The legislation is intended to get around a federal ban on meat inspectors working in horse slaughtering plants.
The bill passed on a voice vote yesterday and needs another vote before moving
to the Senate.
The horse meat bill also includes a provision aimed at blocking initiative petitions to restrict agriculture.
In 2007 lawmakers in Illinois banned the slaughter of horses. That forced the nation's last horse slaughterhouse to shut down.