Collection:LPB

Genre: Speech

Place Covered: Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-04-15

Duration: 00:55:51

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Politics | Government | Taxes | STATE BUDGET | New Orleans Saints (Football team) | Education | SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION | Edwards, Edwin W. | HIGHER EDUCATION | Early childhood education

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Ackal, Bo, Jr. Interviewee
• Lancaster, Charles Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker

Ken Johnson hosts live coverage of Governor Edwin Edwards’ opening address to the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature on April 15, 1985. Johnson reports that the state is facing a $120 million budget deficit despite tax increases in 1984. He also presents his interviews with State Representative Bo Ackal, Jr. and State Representative Charles Lancaster on where the money from those tax increases went. In his speech, Governor Edwards asserts his intention to run for re-election in 1987 despite his federal indictment and defends his 1984 tax increases. He also outlines his legislative proposals, including: the state budget; building four new prisons; a deal to keep the New Orleans Saints in the state; and his sweeping education reform package, including a study on the Vo-Tech system, allowing the BESE Board to appoint the Superintendent of Education, changes to K-12 testing, requiring kindergarten, a merit pay plan for teachers, and teacher re-certification.