House approves horse slaughter ban; measure heads to Senate

SPRINGFIELD - Three years after a proposal to ban the slaughter of horse meat for human consumption failed, Illinois lawmakers are again making a push to abolish the practice. The proposed ban, which passed the Illinois House Wednesday 74-41, heads to the Senate where lawmakers will decide whether to send it to the desk of Gov. Rod Blagojevich. A similar proposal passed the Senate in 2004 before fizzling in the House. If approved, the measure would permanently halt operations at Cavel International's DeKalb plant. The plant, which slaughters about 1,000 horses a week and ships the meat around the world, was shut down late last month after federal on-site inspectors were ordered out over funding issues. State Rep. Bob Molaro, D-Chicago, sai