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May 29, 2008 1:35 PM
Subject: RE: SB 292 VOTE
Louisiana Senate Fails to Pass Public Access for Fishing Bill (SB 292); May be Reconsidered Monday
On Wednesday afternoon, May 28, Senator Joe McPherson (D-Woodworth) presented SB 292 on the floor of the Louisiana Senate. It was the bill’s second appearance. After the initial debate on May 7, McPherson returned the bill to the calendar when he recognized that he did not have the votes to pass it. This time, there was more support, but the bill still came up short, failing to pass on a 17-19 vote. Since the number of opposing votes does not constitute a majority (20) of the 39 members of the Louisiana Senate, the bill can be reconsidered. Whether or not that happens will depend on generating more support for the bill by Monday, June 2. Senators voting for and against are listed below along with the districts they represent and their email addresses.
SB 292 clarifies state law that the public has the right to recreationally fish using pole and line on the overflow waters of public navigable waterways. It does not apply to private canals or marshes overflowed by tidal waters. It passed the Senate Natural Resources Committee on May 1st by a 4-2 vote. In the debate on the Senate floor, arguments made by senators against the bill were based on concern that the legislation would promote trespass on private property and associated illegal behavior such as theft and vandalism; also, that the legislation promoted the taking of a private property right without compensation.
Senator Adley, who jokingly offered an amendment to make it illegal for fish to go on to private property, was a main nemesis of the bill. In equal opposition was Senator Thompson who suggested that the question needed more study. Senators, Morish, Donahue and LaFleur (in the first debate) and Senator Shaw in the debate yesterday, also spoke out in opposition or aided opponents by asking leading questions. Several Senators amended their districts out of the bill including Senators Adley (Bienville, Bossier, Claiborne, Red River, Webster ), Thompson (Concordia, East Carroll, Madison, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas), Nevers (St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington), Morrish (Acadia, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis), Long (Grant, Natchitoches, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, Winn) and Quinn (Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa). Adley, Thompson, Nevers and Morrish still voted against the bill, even though their districts were amended out.
The bill can pass only if Senators hear from their constituents to support the bill. Those senators who had their districts excluded from the bill might be persuaded to reinstate them. A contact list of Senate members with district phone #s and email addresses is included below. Calls are more effective than emails. At the capitol, senators can be reached by calling the Senate switchboard at 225-342-2040. The Senate FAX # is 225-342-0617. Contact information is also on the Legislature’s website (http://senate.legis.state.la.us/Senators/).
The message to give to the legislators is that “I support SB 292 to provide fishing access to overflow waters of public navigable waterways.” Be sure to note that the bill does not propose to allow public recreational fishing access to private canals or inundated marshlands or marsh ponds. Legislators will pay greater attention to a message from a voter in their district, so it is important to include contact information of the sender. Emails sent to members of the Legislature should include the sender’s name and USPS mailing address as well as a phone number where the sender can be reached.
Members of the Louisiana State Senate Voting FOR SB 292
Jody Amedee, Dist. 18, Gonzales; 225-644-1526; amedeej@legis.state.la.us
Sharon Broome, Dist. 15, Baton Rouge; 225-359-9352; broomes@legis.state.la.us
Bill Cassidy, Dist. 16, Baton Rouge; 225-925-2522; lasen16@legis.state.la.us
Yvonne Dorsey, Dist. 14, Baton Rouge; 225-342-9700; dorseyy@legis.state.la.us
Ann Duplessis, Dist. 2, New Orleans; 504-243-7795; duplessisa@legis.state.la.us
Reggie Dupre, Dist. 20, Houma; 985-876-9902; lasen20@legis.state.la.us
Butch Gautreaux, Dist. 21, Morgan City; 985-380-2433; lasen21@legis.state.la.us
Nick Gautreaux, Dist. 26, Abbeville; 337-740-6425; gautreauxn@legis.state.la.us
Troy Hebert, Dist. 22, New Iberia; 337-365-8484; hebertt@legis.state.la.us
David Heitmeier, Dist. 7, New Orleans; 504-361-6356; heitmeierd@legis.state.la.us
Gerald Long, Dist. 31, Winnfield; 318-628-5799; longg@legis.state.la.us
Joe McPherson, Dist. 29, Woodworth; 318-484-2211; lasen29@legis.state.la.us
Willie Mount, Dist. 27, Lake Charles; 337-491-2016; lasen27@legis.state.la.us
Edwin Murray, Dist. 4, New Orleans; 504-945-0042; murraye@legis.state.la.us
Julie Quinn, Dist. 6, Metairie; 504-219-4640; quinnj@legis.state.la.us
Derrick Shepherd, Dist. 3, Marrero; 504-371-0263; websen@legis.state.la.us
John Smith, Dist. 30, Leesville; 337-238-2709; smithj@legis.state.la.us
Members of the Louisiana State Senate Voting AGAINST SB 292
Robert Adley, Dist. 36, Benton; 318-965-1755; adleyr@legis.state.la.us
John Alario, Dist. 8, Westwego; 504-340-2221; 504-340-2221; alarioj@legis.state.la.us
Joel Chaisson, Dist. 19, Destrahan; 985-764-9911; websen@legis.state.la.us
Sherri Cheek, Dist 38, Keithville; 318-687-4820; smithcheek@legis.state.la.us
Donald Cravins Jr., Dist. 24, Opelousas, 337-943-2407; cravinsd@legis.state.la.us
A. G. Crowe, Dist. 1, Slidell; 985-643-3600; crowea@legis.state.la.us
Jack Donahue, Dist. 11, Mandeville; 985-727-7949; donahuej@legis.state.la.us
Dale Erdey, Dist. 13, Livingston; 225-686-2881; erdeyd@legis.state.la.us
Bob Kostelka, Dist. 35, Monroe; 318-362-3474; kostelka@legis.state.la.us
Eric LaFleur, Dist. 28, Ville Platte; 337-363-5019; lefleure@legis.state.la.us
Rob Marionneaux, Dist. 17, Livonia; 225-637-3623; lasen17@legis.state.la.us
Danny Martiny, Dist. 10, Metairie; 504-834-7676; martinyd@legis.state.la.us
Mike Michot, Dist. 23, Lafayette; 337-262-1332; lasen23@legis.state.la.us
Dan Morrish, Dist. 25, Jennings, 337-824-3979; morrishd@legis.state.la.us
Ben Nevers, Dist. 12, Bogalusa; 985-732-6863; websen@legis.state.la.us
Neil Riser, Dist. 32, Columbia; 318-649-0977; risern@legis.state.la.us
Buddy Shaw, Dist. 37, Shreveport; 318-861-5941; shawb@legis.state.la.us
Francis Thompson, Dist. 34, Delhi; 318-878-9408; thompsof@legis.state.la.us
Mike Walsworth, Dist. 33, West Monroe; 318-340-6453; walsworthm@legis.state.la.us
Absent
Cheryl Gray, Dist. 5, New Orleans; 504-568-2098; grayc@legis.state.la.us
Lydia Jackson, Dist. 39, Shreveport; 318-676-7029; jacksonl@legis.state.la.us
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