Senate rejects, then OKs CATS board
by Mark Ballard - Advocate (excerpt)

The state Senate at first rejected, then approved legislation late Tuesday that would change how members on the CATS Board of Commissioners are chosen. The Senate first voted 18-18 on House Bill 865 on Capital Area Transit System, called CATS, short of the majority needed for passage. State Sen. Sharon Weston Broome, D-Baton Rouge, who was handling the House-passed legislation, asked for reconsideration and her colleagues agreed. When the Senate voted again, HB865 won on a vote of 20 for and 15 against. The measure must return to the House for consideration of Senate changes.

Voting FOR changing the CATS board (20): President Alario and state Sens. Broome, Brown, Chabert, Cortez, Dorsey-Colomb, Gallot, Heitmeier, Johns, Martiny, Mills, Morrell, Murray, Nevers, Perry, Peterson, G. Smith, Tarver, Thompson and Ward.

Voting AGAINST HB865 (15): State Sen. Adley, Allain, Appel, Buffington, Claitor, Crowe, Donahue, Erdey, Kostelka, Long, Morrish, Riser, J. Smith, Walsworth and White.

Not Voting (4): Sens. Amedee, Guillory, LaFleur and Peacock.

COMMENTARY: Message to the House- This is not just another "local bill." Putting $300 million dollars into the hands of a bunch of bus riders is not in the best interest of the taxpayers! With all of the obvious problems BR is facing, how this issue became a priority is still very suspect to us.