SENATE PANEL PUSHES MULE BILL ALONG PATH TO FLOOR DEBATE

A proposal to make the mule the official state animal plowed out of a Senate committee Thursday. The next hurdle is to get the mule debate a hearing before the entire senate.

"We're making splendid progress," said Charles Woodford with the Cape Girardeau American Legion. The local legion started the push to designate the Missouri Mule the Official Animal of Missouri.

The House of Representatives already gave its approval for the mule's honor.

"Back in 1983, a similar bill passed the house, went to senate and died in committee," Woodford said.

Sen. Peter Kinder, a declared supporter of the bill, said the legislation should be scheduled for debate this week or next.

It has been combined with legislation to make square dancing the official state dance.

Woodford said, "I'm convinced if it gets on the senate calendar and up to debate, it will pass."

An all-star cast has testified before legislators on behalf of the mule.

The state commander of the American Legion, publishers of mule magazines, a lobbyist for Central Missouri State University (home of the Fighting Mules), and even Leroy Van Dyke of Grand Ole Opry fame have praised the donkey-horse hybrid's attributes and place in history.

In his letter supporting House Bill 84, Van Dyke wrote: "We are now in the midst of a regeneration, a revolution, if you will, of mule production in Missouri. Equestrians all over North America are rediscovering the Missouri mule, and we are again at the cutting edge of the mule business in our state, but this time it is the Missouri saddle mule that is gaining momentum."

"The Missouri mule has earned an honorable position in history and deserves to be named the Missouri State Animal," he said. "Let's make it official."