Collection:LPB

Genre: Speech

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2016-03-14

Duration: 00:57:10

Subjects: Edwards, John Bel | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 2016 | STATE BUDGET | MEDICAID | Health Care | MINIMUM WAGE | Sex discrimination | Equal pay for equal work | Education | Educational vouchers | Louisiana. Department of Children & Family Services | Juvenile justice, Administration of | Transportation | Floods, 2016

Contributors:

• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Erwin, Barry Guest
• Wood, Rodney Speaker
• Alario, John Speaker
• Nelson, April Performer
• Edwards, John Bel Speaker

Charlie Whinham hosts live coverage of Governor John Bel Edwards’ opening address to the 2016 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature on March 14, 2016. Prior to the speech, Whinham and Barry Erwin of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) preview the major issues of the session. In the House chamber, Reverend Rodney Wood leads a prayer, Senate President John Alario leads the Pledge of Allegiance, and Miss Louisiana April Nelson sings the National Anthem. During his speech, Governor Edwards discusses: the recent flooding around the state; the recently concluded Special Session of the Legislature; the state’s remaining budget deficit; Medicaid expansion; increasing the minimum wage; enacting gender pay equity; his education reform proposals, including changes to the school voucher program; restructuring the Department of Children and Family Services; juvenile justice reform; transportation funding; and his support of passenger rail in both north and south Louisiana. Following the speech, Whinham and Erwin analyze Governor Edwards’ remarks.