CATS Bill Coming to Senate Floor Tuesday

April 29, 2012 0 Comments

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Senate will consider passage of HB 865 by Rep. Regina Barrow Tuesday at the State Capitol.

This legislation is part of Rep. Barrow’s effort to take away the power of the Metro Council to oversee the activities of the Capital Area Transit System (CATS).

At present, CATS is both the socialized, government-owned bus company for Baton Rouge AND the regulatory authority for private transportation services in East Baton Rouge Parish. Current law provides that its decisions on fares, routes, and schedules are subject to review by the elected members of the City-Parish Metro Council.

However, Rep. Barrow’s bill would take the Metro Council’s oversight out of the law and give CATS sole and exclusive authority to regulate its possible competition — PRIVATE bus companies that desire to serve the Baton Rouge area.

The bill also provides that future members of the CATS board would come from a pool of individuals nominated by organizations that receive government funds and supported the recent $173 million tax increase, such as Together Baton Rouge. Ordinary conservative, small business owners would have little chance of being appointed.

CATS needs to be replaced with a privatized alternative. But this legislation would prevent that by allowing this board to decide the fares, routes, and schedules of its possible private competitors.

The Republican Party of East Baton Rouge Parish voted unanimously to oppose this legislation. Citizens are encouraged to call their senators at 342-2040 and let their voices be heard.

Please call Republican senators from East Baton Rouge Parish and ask them to oppose and speak against HB 865. The senators are Dan Claitor and Bodi White.