Collection:LPB

Genre: Debate

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2007-09-27

Duration: 00:58:15

Subjects: Television debates | Elections, 2007 | Louisiana gubernatorial election, 2007 | COUNCIL FOR A BETTER LOUISIANA | Politics | Government | Jindal, Bobby, 1971- | GEORGES, JOHN | Campbell, Foster L. | BOASSO, WALTER J. | Race | Jena Six | Hurricane recovery | Hurricane Katrina, 2005 | Hurricane Rita, 2005 | Hurricanes | Educational change | School choice | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | Health Care | Hospitals | Louisiana Charity Hospital System | Political ethics | Workforce development | Religion | Taxes | HIGHER EDUCATION

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Moderator
• Erwin, Barry Moderator
• Ekings, Robyn Interviewer
• Scott, Robert Travis Interviewer
• Freeman, Craig Interviewer
• Redman, Carl Interviewer
• Jindal, Bobby Panelist
• Georges, John Panelist
• Campbell, Foster Panelist
• Boasso, Walter Panelist

Beth Courtney and Barry Erwin of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL) moderate a live debate from the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge on September 27, 2007, between the four candidates for Governor: Congressman Bobby Jindal (R); businessman John Georges (I); Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell (D); and State Senator Walter Boasso (D). The debate consists of an opening question and four rounds of questions. In lieu of an opening statement, the candidates answer the following question: If you are elected Governor, what are three specific accomplishments at the end of your first term that voters should use as a measure of accountability for the job you have done? For the first round of questions, a panel of journalists, Robyn Ekings of LPB, Robert Travis Scott of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Craig Freeman of LPB, and Carl Redman of the Baton Rouge Advocate, ask questions to all of the candidates on the following topics: addressing racial divisions in the wake of the Jena 6; committing more state resources to the recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita; school choice and education reform; economic development; and funding for hospitals, including the Charity Hospital system. For the second round, all candidates answer questions submitted by viewers via email on the following issues: increasing the knowledge-based economy in Louisiana; their definition of integrity; and workforce development. For the third round of questions, the panel of journalists ask a question to an individual candidate on the following topics: the influence of Jindal’s religious beliefs on his approach to public policy, including the issues of abortion, prayer at public meetings, and teaching intelligent design in public schools; how Georges will deal with his campaign debt; Campbell’s plans to abolish the income tax and levy a processing tax on oil and natural gas; and Boasso’s switch to the Democratic Party prior to his campaign. For the fourth round of questions, the moderators ask a series of “yes or no” questions on the following issues: merit pay raises for teachers; constructing toll roads; raising academic performance standards for the TOPS program; supporting the continuation of legislative control over tuition increases at colleges and universities; and pardoning former Governor Edwin Edwards. The debate ends with each candidate’s closing statement.