The people in that story that are involved (both extremes) shouldn't be allowed in the discussion, imo. People will over politicize anything given a chance.
I think the legislation itself is well intentioned. It's a first version, so it will be interesting to see how it gets discussed, and changed, etc.
As far as anyone badmouthing HSUS, I actually can sympathize. Lot's of problems in that organization, PFC and I do not support them. It's a very top heavy organization that does relatively little good for all the money it takes in. There's even a website that keeps an eyeball on them.
http://www.humanewatch.org/