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THE BILLBOARD INDUSTRY: State Legislature The billboard industry has been very effective in lobbying members of the state legislature for changes in the state law to further their special interests. However, while the industry can usually find one or more legislators in the House and Senate to introduce their bills, the industry will invariably run into problems once the bills are introduced -- especially when their legislative agenda is revealed in editorials throughout the state. [See Editorials of Interest] The Florida League of Cities and The Florida Association of Counties, along with The 1000 Friends of Florida and the American Planning Association, are also alert to the introduction of such bills. Often the wording of a bill may obscure its local impact, and a legislator or his/her staff may not appreciate the consequences of a bill (which they have introduced at the behest of the billboard industry). Over the past fourteen years, the billboard industry has been whittling away at the minimum protections contained within Chapter 479, Florida Statutes (Florida's law on outdoor advertising). In 1994, the billboard industry was actually able to have their legislative wish list incorporated into a bill sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation. In 1989, a former state senator from North Carolina predicted, "if you keep playing defense you will ultimately get scored upon (or words to that effect)." His prediction has been coming true in Florida. Once every few years the billboard industry will kick a field goal or score a safety, and effectively chip away at the provisions intended to protect scenic beauty. Several goal line stands have kept them from scoring a touchdown. However, the protections for scenic beauty have been been steadily eroded. There have been no effective initiatives at the state level to regain lost ground. The biggest problem faced is the lack of information available to legislators. Many legislators are supportive of scenic conservation. These legislators and their staffs need to be reminded from time to time as to how the state of Florida has been losing the battle to restore and preserve scenic beauty. With their support, Floridians might be able to turn the tide. |