Horse-slaughtering bill passes House panelWirsing's death leaves DeKalb without House representation

SPRINGFIELD - A legislative panel approved legislation Tuesday that could stop a soon-to-reopen horse slaughterhouse in DeKalb in its tracks. The legislation, which would ban the slaughter of horses if the meat is meant for human consumption, was sent to the House floor for further debate on a 7-3 vote of the Executive Committee. Opponents of the measure said it was unfair to ram the bill through the General Assembly in the final days of the fall veto session because the DeKalb area is without representation in the House following the death of Rep. David Wirsing on Sunday. "We are absolutely without representation in our district," said DeKalb attorney Brett Boone, who is representing the owners of the slaughterhouse, Cavel International. W