Horse-slaughter bill passes House; confusion reignsLegislation called ‘vague;' effects on Cavel unclear

WASHINGTON - The House approved a ban on horse slaughter Friday after a confusing amendment about meat inspection caused two Republicans who initially had been sponsors of the ban to vote against it. Those sponsors, Reps. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., and Edward Whitfield, R-Ky., were among the lawmakers who voted against the spending bill that included the ban on horse slaughter. The spending measure passed 318-63. Sweeney and Whitfield say the amendment worked out behind closed doors made last-minute changes about meat inspection that were too vague to understand. &#8220We had four different lawyers look at this language and we've come up with four different answers,” Whitfield said. Agriculture Department lawyers also said the provision was vagu