The Oglala Sioux Tribe might open a horse slaughtering plant in South Dakota, The Bennett County Booster reports.

The tribe has discussed the idea with state officials, a council member said. But the big hurdle will be the Department of Agriculture, whose fiscal year 2014 budget proposal bars funding for inspections at horse slaughtering facilities.

“We still have to bridge some gaps, but this can give us a kick in the pants. We’re looking at 100 to 125 jobs if this happens," council member Craig Dillon told the paper.

Congress inserted a rider in an appropriations act that prohibited the USDA from inspecting horse slaughtering plants that intended to sell meat for human consumption. The provision lapsed in 2011 and at least two other tribes have asked the Obama administration to allow horse slaughtering.

Get the Story:
Oglala Sioux Tribe exploring possibility of horse slaughter facility in Bennett County (The Bennett County Booster 4/18)

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