President Obama's pick for the Office of Management and Budget, Regulatory Affairs is being held up by Saxby Chambliss R-GA for his views on animal welfare. Cass Sunstein, the former Chicago University law professor said in a short Time magazine article on the same subject that "animal suffering matters", and that even in a society which considers animals property, animals should still have rights under law. He also co-edited a book on animal rights which is a growing area of interest in academic legal circles. Citizens are demonstrating an increased awareness of animal suffering in our society. The number of reported animal cruelty-neglect cases has tripled during 1996-2000 says the Animal Legal Defense Fund. But the increasingly paranoid right-wing, sees Sunsteins's appointment as part of 44's creation of 'czars'--super bureaucrats--beyond the power of elected government to control as he attempts to introduce the 'Socialist States of America'.Broadcast insanity aside, just how is 44 doing when considering the topic of animal welfare? Animalrights.about.com has a brief run-down of the President's actions so far. Despite the public relations (photo above), it's a mixed bag.