Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-05-08

Duration: 00:25:58

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Local governments | Education | MAYORS

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Laborde, Raymond Interviewee
• Dastugue, Quentin Interviewee
• Chehardy, Lawrence, Jr. Interviewee
• Powell, Bob Interviewee
• Lastrapes, Dud Interviewee
• Hussey, John Interviewee
• Brinkhaus, Armand Interviewee
• Downer, Hunt Interviewee
• Leach, Buddy Interviewee
• Toomy, Joe Interviewee
• Epling, Carrel Interviewee
• Lacour, Nat Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 8, 1985, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the day’s headlines. These stories include: an interview with State Representative Raymond Laborde on his bill giving the Louisiana State Police the authority to dispose of hazardous materials after an accident; an interview with State Representative Quentin Dastugue on his bill requiring the Governor and Lieutenant Governor to run for office on a ticket; and an interview with Jefferson Parish Assessor Lawrence Chehardy Jr. on the need to raise the homestead exemption. Next, Laura Myers reports on Mayors Day at the State Capitol, including their priorities of strict liability and more independence to raise revenue. She interviews Monroe Mayor Bob Powell, Lafayette Mayor Dud Lastrapes, Shreveport Mayor John Hussey, State Senator Armand Brinkhaus, and State Representatives Hunt Downer and Buddy Leach. Johnson then reports on the competing education reform plans being heard by the House Education Committee. He interviews State Representative Joe Toomy. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Carrel Epling, the president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT), and Nat Lacour, the president of the United Teachers of New Orleans. They discuss: the differences between the education reform plans; their opposition to a merit pay plan tied to the National Teacher Examination (NTE); teacher evaluations; teacher recertification; education funding; keeping teachers in the state; and the politics of education.