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 755
"Our" Bill-and 2 year struggle for a Hotline- In memory of Cory Domangue
Killed by Tactics of the Alcohol Industry.Louisiana -Spring/Summer 2005 Recovering Mom's Alcohol Crisis hotline Defeate  d
Again. Corey's Bill Family Vows to continue to fight for Louisiana Youth and Problem Drinkers Corey's Bill -HB 755 Alcohol Crisis Helpline-Hi-Jacked and Killed  Hi-Jacked
bill leaves Louisiana Youth and Adult Problem Drinkers at Risk
The toll-free number
would have been operated by officials of
the state Department of Health and Hospitals. It was to be run by
workers "with knowledge of programs and services available
to assist persons suffering from alcohol abuse or problem drinking
behavior"ACT NOW (Our Action Alert from the 2005 Session for Corey's Bill) Our Efforts are moving forward to create the first Recovery driven legislation in LA--Senate to hear Toll Free Alcohol Helpline Bill.  This
review is a general layout of the core issues and their plight during
the Louisiana Legislative session of 2005.
House Bill 755 gets canned in the final hours of the session. We can't help but suspect efforts at the last minute, unknown to Rep. Smith, were aimed at killing HB 755- after the House Floor Attack he brought forward on HB 754 which stripped, and killed this alcohol industry bill pushed by Troy Hebert. Rep. Jack Smith worked with us in our 2nd effort to create a law providing for a statewide alcohol helpline, and signage where alcohol is sold. The man who pushes and fights for HB 755, is to be thanked, not slammed in the  media for what amounts to the last minute antics of
dishonest lobbyists with a masked agenda aimed at a further expansion of
profits."The losers at the end of the last-minute shenanigans alcoholics, food servers and Louisiana wineries." Rep. Jack Smith, a hero for the Domangue family, and other families impacted by alcohol abuse/addiction in Louisiana worked very hard from the start of this legislative session to pass "Corey's Bill", this after last years efforts to push our bill in Corey's memory was first filed (and defeated by the Alcohol Lobbyists) by A.G. Crowe were killed before even getting the hotline to the House Floor for a vote. Too bad that his good will to get help to the thousands in need came down to the booze lobby retaining control over alcohol sales in our state. It appears that this bill attempted to restore the rights of small business owners in Louisiana who have vineyards and produce wine in Louisiana to sell direct out of state, an action support for state winery owners in a recent supreme court decision. A House Bill that was authored by Rep. Mike Powell (to determine process of measuring distance for alcohol outlets from church's and schools) was hi-jacked by the liquor lobby to ensure control over all sales of all wines see excerpt from Times Picayune below
Searching for funds for the Alcohol Hotline before it can go to the Governor lead HB 755 to a Joint Confrence Committee where an agreement was to be reached requiring the liquor industry's cooperation for a fee addition to cover the costs of the hotline ($12.00 not a lot of money, dollar per month for each licensee annually) During joint Conf Committee on Corey's bill, an effort that Rep. Smith pushed to acquire the fees rejected earlier by the liquor lobby that would actually fund the statewide helpline. After passing with overwhelming support in both the full House and full Senate, the challenge seemed small in applying a minimal fee for those who sold alcohol in Louisiana to assist in costs for alcohol crisis across the state.
Who
would have imagined that this Conference committee made up of 6 law
makers would be the death of this legislation? Rep. Jack Smith,
tired of Rep. Hebert's relentless push for more alcohol outlets (see HB
754) and other pro alcohol industry efforts stood up and took action. When Rep. Troy Hebert's bill came forward in the full House, Rep. Smith lead on the floor, stripping the additional outlets (6000 daiquiris) and carrying two amendments to the stripped legislation, the first to support fees for alcohol licensees that would fund the Alcohol Hotline (which came within just a few votes of passing), and then a second amendment when the other failed, to "do the least we can do to warn youth of alcohol fatal risks" he proposed an amendment that would place risk of death warning labels on alcohol products sold in the state. This amendment passed! The full House voted to add an alcohol warning label (like those on cigarettes) declaring that use of this product may kill you. That was quite an amazing site to see. Our 2005 Alerts
supporting our effort to create a toll free alcohol helpline: Related News:According
to the most recent figures available from the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, Louisiana has the nation's third-highest rate of
alcohol-related traffic deaths. The state Highway Safety Commission
accurately pinpoints the underlying reasons for the appalling record:
lax drinking laws and a culture that encourages alcohol use.
Daily Advertiser Editorial on Hebert's Bill- Fought and killed on
the house floor by Rep. Greene and Rep. Jack Smith.
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