Judge Bans Alligator Hide Program
The Advertiser reports that a federal judge recently banned Louisiana from using license fees and export tax money to promote Louisiana's alligator hide industry at trade shows and boutiques. The ruling indicated that the forced participation required by the program was unconstitutional because it amounted to forced commercial speech.
In the Louisiana case, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman Philip Bowman said no decision has been made on whether the department will appeal the ban, which is set to take effect July 1. The fees and export tax will still be collected to fund research and alligator management programs. He said it was premature to say if the fees and tax would be lowered.
Posted by AJR at May 14, 2003 07:37 AM