The army of lobbyists who descended on the capitol this spring to stop the legislature from passing payday loan restrictions managed to make the bills worse and worse until, yesterday,
they finally killed the last one.
Senate Bill 84 fell six votes short on a 20-17 vote. The bill needed
26 votes after Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, dealt
supporters a blow by declaring it required two-thirds’ approval.
“Citizens lose. Lobbyists win. The voice of the people was silenced
by campaign contributions,” the Rev. Lee Wesley, of Baton Rouge, said
afterward.
Industry lobbyists in Baton Rouge were shy about commenting afterward.
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