Rep. Jeff Arnold has filed a bill that will require red light cameras to be approved by the vote of the people. Sources tell THE DEAD PELICAN that Arnold is encountering heavy opposition to the bill. (See the bill here).
Chair Woman, Regina Barrow has been asked to schedule the bill at the first meeting of the Municipal committee, THE DEAD PELICAN has learned. The lobbyists have already started lobbying the committee VERY HARD!
Sources say that Courson Nickel lobby firm (who works for the City of Baton Rouge and Redflex Camera company) has hired other contract lobbyists to kill the bill. The lobbyists are known to camp out in the house chamber in order to influence members, sources tell THE DEAD PELICAN.
Mayor Kip Holden is putting additional pressure on the Baton Rouge delegation to kill Arnold's bill. Holden is a vocal supporter of the camera program. THE DEAD PELICAN saw Holden over a year ago at a hearing where he opposed another measure by Arnold banning the red light cameras!
MITCH TURNS UP THE HEAT!New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has allegedly asked Arnold to drop the bill, but Arnold has refused to do so.
Landrieu has told the Orleans Delegation that this is the "single most dangerous bill for the City of New Orleans." He has even accused Arnold of "picking the pocket of the City."
All because Rep. Arnold wants to put red-light cameras to a vote of the people!
DEVELOPING....
