Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), who has bucked the idea of dining with horses, took to MSNBC on Thursday to further defend his opposition to miniature horses in restaurants and other businesses.
Last month, the Justice Department implemented a rule allowing disabled individuals to use trained miniature horses as alternatives to guide dogs under the American Disabilities Act. Chaffetz fired back by offering an amendment to the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill that would bar the use of funds to implement that section of the ADA.
The congressman defended his proposal on MSNBC's "The Daily Rundown," telling host Luke Russert that while he understands that "there are some people that need these horses," his objection to the rule comes down to two problems: the Justice Department's creation of what Chaffetz has called a "regulatory burden," and potty training.
"Look, even the Miniature Horse Association -- and I know, Luke, you subscribe to their monthly magazine -- even they have come out and said, look, you can't potty train, for instance a horse to the same degree that you can a canine," Chaffetz said. "So it seems like the federal government, the Department of Justice, is going overboard in issuing a rule."
Chaffetz expressed similar sentiment in a Daily Herald editorial published last month, writing that the Obama administration's action has left small businesses vulnerable to expensive litigation.
"If a person wishes to bring a horse into an establishment, the request should be dealt with on a case-by-case basis -- not through a federal mandate," Chaffetz wrote.
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