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Hello All,

After a lot of work through phone calls and emails SB136 has been passed by the Senate and the House! The final step in this process is for the Governor Jindal to sign the bill. It has been brought to my attention that the Governor has been getting a lot of phone calls and emails in opposition to the bill. I need all of you to put in a phone call into the Governor’s office as well as email the 4 people below in support of SB136. Please let the Governor know, once again, that this bill does not affect local zoning laws. Each municipality has the opportunity to override the state’s regulations. This has been the case the whole time. It is unfortunate that this has blown up to the point where religious groups, neighborhood associations and the City of New Orleans has muddied the water so much that it has become the giant that it is today. Let’s not allow these few groups to push so hard in opposition for a bill they do not fully understand.

• bobby.jindal@la.gov
• camille.conaway@la.gov
• timmy.teepell@la.gov

Emails must have “SB 136″ in subject.

You can call the Governor’s office at (225) 342-7015.

Thanks so much for your continued support.

Dave Remmetter

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The House Judiciary Committee voted in favor of SB 136 by a vote of 8 to 4 yesterday morning. The bill now heads to the full House for consideration. The House will vote on this bill sometime between now and Monday. By law, the House MUST consider this bill by the end of business on Monday, June 22nd.

It is once again critical that we generate telephone calls, emails and faxes to each of the 104 members of the House of Representatives asking them to vote FOR SB 136. We are almost there…WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW…

Please use these talking points (pdf) when contacting members of the House of Representatives. You can look up your representative using the form below:

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO MENTION TO EACH REPRESENTATIVE THAT THIS BILL IN NO WAY EFFECTS LOCAL ZONING LAWS. In other words, local governments can still enact their own zoning laws and other regulations related to restaurants that sell alcohol.

Thank you!!!

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Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 17, 2009, in the House Judiciary Committee (Rm. number 1), representatives will consider our bill, SB 136. This little bill has been on a long, erratic and arduous journey, but Wednesday is it’s debut day in the other chamber, the House. It is our assumption that Senator Jackson herself will be “handling” the bill rather than asking a colleague on the House side to shepherd the bill through committee. (more…)

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Great news! SB 136 was brought up for reconsideration on the floor of the Louisiana State Senate yesterday and passed  by a margin of 11 votes (23 to 12)! The bill now moves to the Louisiana State House of Representatives where it will be assigned to committee. So stay tuned on dates and times committee meetings and how you can contact your representatives and express your support for SB 136.

Thanks again to Senatory Lydia Jackson for introducing the bill in the Senate and to all of you for doing your part by signing the petition and contacting your Senators and urging them to support the bill. We’re getting there!

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SB 136 is running into opposition from an unexpected corner. Within the ranks of the restaurant industry itself, forces are building up quickly to defeat SB 136. New Orleans’ own Ralph Brennan of Bacco, Mr.B’s Bistro, the Red Fish Grill, Commander’s Palace, and much more is the force behind the opposition. His efforts are gaining steam and have spread throughout the French Quarter and beyond to various neighborhood associations in the Crescent City. What this means for us is that if the Beer Industry League and the Louisiana Restaurant Association can’t convince Mr. Brennan and friends of the merits of passing this bill or work out a compromise, we’re in for an epic battle. Fighting the New Orleans restaurant lobby is not what we wanted or expected. We haven’t been able to figure out why Mr. Brennan opposes any changes to existing language; it might just be a general protectionist stance to take care of his investments.

CORRECTION

It has come to our attention that Ralph Brennan is not opposed to SB 136. On good faith and reasonable belief therein, we understand that Mr. Brennan agrees with the clarification contained within SB 136 and is actually a supporter of the bill in its current form. Therefore, we wish to issue this public correction to state that the information previously provided (above), though from an otherwise credible and substantiated source, appears to have been inaccurate as it pertains to Brennan. There is indeed resistance from that part of the New Orleans restaurant community which is apparently confused about the potential effect of the proposed bill on existing businesses, but Ralph Brennan should not be counted within their ranks. Our sincere apologies for this mistake.

We still desperately need you to call at least your senator and hopefully a few others and express your support for SB 136. The road ahead is getting steeper and the simple truth is that we cannot hope to make it without you and your voice. (more…)

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