# Quacks Vote To Approve Duck Bills in D.C. and Denver

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/quacks-vote-to-approve-duck-bills-in-d-c-and-denver/
- Published: 2026-11-04T04:28:47+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T05:41:51+00:00
- Original publisher: Reason (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://reason.com/2026/11/03/quacks-vote-to-approve-duck-bills-in-d-c-and-denver/
- Topics: Elections, Politics

## Key points

- D.C. and Denver voters approved foie gras bans.
- D.C. estimates enforcement will cost $314,000 over four years.
- Legal challenges could delay the bans’ planned start next July.

## Summary

Voters in Washington, D.C., and Denver approved measures banning the sale and production of foie gras, a dish made from the livers of ducks and geese. The votes mark a win for animal welfare campaigners, though the article argues their case relied on misleading claims about how the birds are fed and on appeals to resentment of wealthy diners.

The measures, Initiative 86 in D.C. and Ordinance 311 in Denver, were backed by Pro-Animal Future, which spent about $400,000 on the D.C. campaign. Foie gras production involves feeding birds over roughly 12 to 15 days; the article cites research disputing claims that the process causes pain or liver damage. D.C. estimates enforcement will cost $314,000 over four fiscal years and require an extra inspector, while Denver has estimated no fiscal impact. Both bans are due to take effect on 1 July next year, but legal challenges could delay them.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.