Billboard Industry, Environmentalists Negotiating

According to the Raleigh News & Observer, which yesterday said the N.C. Senate would be voting today on whether to override the Guv's veto of the Billboard Industry Empowerment Act of 2004, is today saying that the industry's lobbyists were in an all-day negotiation on Thursday with lobbyists for environmental and municipal interests to strike a deal that everyone can live with.  The legislature seems determined to adjourn its session this weekend, and time is running out for a vote to override the veto.

The billboard industry lobbyist told the N&O that he was hopeful that the two sides could meet in the middle; the lobbyist for the League of Municipalities was less optimistic, sending a signal that the industry reps have failed to move very far off their demands.  The fact that the senate hadn't already scheduled a vote on overriding the veto also sends a signal that maybe the supporters of the bill aren't so sure they have the votes.  Or something else is going on in the far from transparent state senate.

UPDATE:  The AP is reporting that state senator Walter Dalton, D-Rutherford, the bill's primary sponsor in the Senate, says that a compromise has been reached, and that a newly revised measure will be on the floor of both chambers as early as Friday.  Hmmm.  That's today. Stand by for developments.