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Hemingway Home & Museum CEO Michael Morawski on the federal government’s effort to regulate the museum because of its cats.
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You know we talk a lot about the ever expanding role of government here's a story today that really takes the cake.
The famous cats at the Hemingway museum in Key West, Florida are now subject to federal oversight.
That's right thanks to an appellate court ruling the museum must abide by the same laws regulating foods or circuses.
Joining me now online the CEO of the Ernest Hemingway home and museum in Key West Mike -- ski Mike thanks for coming on the show really appreciate it.
I just don't get this how is it that the federal government thinks it should have oversight over your museum.
Belly it just appears that in enforcement agent Doug visited the property.
And based on our our very interpretation -- -- exhibiting the bad.
We -- under those guidelines -- -- that time period we've been.
Trying to comply with the with -- century last stand.
Obtaining the necessary licenses.
Well it tell -- a little bit about your -- because they're very special.
But then also tell us how many there are.
There we have we have 44 jets that occupy -- 18 server site that the museum.
And studio Ernest Hemingway.
-- -- Roam the property along those lines but they're unique characteristic.
Is -- historical linkage between the ship ship bears they -- -- -- They have multi they have more than five toes on on -- -- Well -- likely shopped picture what of one of those can't you could see very clearly with had a kind of weird pause their -- oversize and extra I guess fingers I don't know which a column but -- right there.
So.
It's federal inspectors come I Anderson USDA visits.
Tell me really -- -- -- into the museum and what they do when -- on site.
Well there's this process began in 2003.
And today is -- last week was finally be solved.
We didn't come to a mutual agreement.
About.
-- and a half years ago.
That allowed us to take the USDA tended to court.
To dispute there regulatory authority over -- our museum.
What only.
Tell me how many laws are you said to be violating there.
Well where it will again of the process was was that we needed to get our cap light.
And through that five -- process.
They kept moving their target necessary for us to.
Get -- -- license.
Finally.
We were able to to.
Meet with assistant secretary.
Of the department of the hacker culture.
Encounter negotiated agreement so that we can finally take the -- to court and -- they're right to.
-- as well regulated as say vocal.
Business we are.
-- are listening -- -- zoo in what way at what what it you know.
I don't think can't take a lot of maintenance -- No end and -- -- what they did what they said that sense the sense where on the Internet and our brochure out of the cap on it.
Where and -- interstate commerce and and so -- borrow we needed to be license.
Because with artists -- away and it appears that -- -- that they'll.
Have a historical linkage that we talked about that historical linkage why we give our visitors that -- and the -- government.
USDA agency -- they're bad met that criteria.
They exhibitor which are both under there's do and circus.
Criteria I -- -- read something friend judge Jill do behind -- from the eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals here's what he said.
-- exhibition of the Hemingway cats is integral to the museum's commercial purpose and thus there exhibit.
There exhibition affects interstate commerce.
For these reasons congress has the power to regulate the museum in the exhibition of -- cats.
BS the animal welfare act what this is the craziest thing -- why in the world the government even cares that your museum exists is beyond big -- Do you think -- gonna be able to -- to turn its back.
You know there's been that I think the only thing that we have available to us now as legislative.
-- but yet opportunities we're gonna try to meet with with our senator.
Along those lines security are exactly right this is this is so far reaching if somebody has a complaint.
-- helping care of our animals which they don't know I have.
300 to 600 people on a daily basis.
Coming through the museum.
Observing and seeing all of our.
But if -- did they -- -- our local authority.
Man or animal control and they would come out and handle does this situation.
-- circumstance that would that was there they would get with our local bed with our mobile bad.
And and figure out if there really is a problem did exist.
But they have the Fed started helping the outcome and then and and telling us that we we need -- to put up been seeing.
To contain the animals because they shouldn't be allowed to the -- outside the property basically bottom unleashes -- what they -- required.
So when -- know how to be killed -- I had -- my thanks for coming on tonight.
What they haven't started that you've got -- if he hasn't changed -- -- tell that tell the shelling and we'll bring you back to talk about it and just amazing story but we don't tip.
Thanks so much for your time really appreciate your holidays to you is that you again you're welcome thank you --
