Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1984-06-14

Duration: 00:25:43

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1984 | Flood control | Taxes | Teacher pay raises | Home schooling | DRINKING AGE | Drunk driving

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Ekings, Robyn Host
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Forster, Garey Speaker
• Laborde, Raymond Speaker
• Cannon, Kitty Interviewee
• Ward, Ken Interviewee
• Bella, V.J. Interviewee
• Johnson, Jon Interviewee
• Theriot, Sam Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 14, 1984, features 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: a press conference with Governor Edwin Edwards announcing his support of a plan to build a dam and reservoir on the Amite River near Darlington as a flood control measure; State Representative Garey Forster and State Representative Raymond Laborde debating an increase in the corporate franchise tax in order to fund teacher pay raises; and an interview with Kitty Cannon, the mother of a special needs home school student, on a bill requiring children who are home schooled to take an annual test. Next, Ekings reports on a bill raising the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21. Ekings reports that Congress is considering a proposal that would restrict federal highway funds to states where the minimum drinking age is under 21. Her report includes interviews with Ken Ward of the Louisiana Moral Association and State Representative V.J. Bella. Lastly, Johnson and Ekings conduct an in-studio interview with State Representative Jon Johnson and State Representative Sam Theriot. They discuss the minimum drinking age bill.