Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1984-05-18

Duration: 00:25:22

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1984 | Politics | Government | Teacher pay raises | Louisiana Association of Educators | Day care centers | STATE BUDGET

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Johnson, Ken Host
• Ekings, Robyn Host
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Slacks, Lorraine Speaker
• Steimel, Ed Interviewee
• Conger, Debra Speaker
• Brockhaus, Betty Speaker
• Reilly, Kevin, Sr. Interviewee
• Epling, Carrel Interviewee
• Gee, Terry Interviewee
• Turnley, Richard Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 18, 1984, features Beth Courtney, Ken Johnson and Robyn Ekings hosting a daily legislative report on the 1984 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the day’s headlines. These stories include: highlights from Governor Edwin Edwards’ press conference outlining his $293 million tax plan to fund teacher pay raises; a press conference with Lorraine Slacks, the president of the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE), discussing their support for the Governor’s plan; an interview with Ed Steimel, the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), on his opposition to the proposed increase in the corporate franchise tax; and Debra Conger and Betty Brockhaus testifying in favor of a bill requiring the licensing of day care centers. Next, Ekings reports on the details of Governor Edwards’ tax plan and LAE’s plans for a teacher walk-off. Her report includes interviews with State Representative Kevin Reilly, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Carrel Epling, the president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. Lastly, Courtney conducts an in-studio interview with State Representative Terry Gee and State Senator Richard Turnley, the chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus. They discuss: their stance on teacher pay raises and the Governor’s tax plan; sales tax exemptions; the likelihood that the Governor’s plan will pass; the potential impact of the teacher walk-off; and the work of the special committee on budget reductions.