Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-06-18

Duration: 00:27:39

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | STATE BUDGET | Law Enforcement | Liability (Law)

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Edwards, Edwin Interviewee
• Perlman, Ralph Speaker
• Bruneau, Peppi Speaker
• Reilly, Kevin, Sr. Speaker
• Thompson, Mike Interviewee
• Campbell, Foster Interviewee
• Swearingen, Lawson Interviewee
• Alario, John Speaker
• Jackson, Johnny Interviewee
• Hainkel, John Speaker
• Windhorst, Fritz Speaker
• Jefferson, William Interviewee
• Bares, Allen Interviewee
• Baker, Richard Interviewee
• Sumlin, William Interviewee
• Hand, Ken Interviewee
• Davidge, T.H. Interviewee
• Miller, Ralph Interviewee
• Newman, Cliff Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 18, 1985, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first interviews Governor Edwin Edwards, who discusses balancing the state budget. Laura Myers then reports on the House floor debate on the state budget. Her report includes: Ralph Perlman, state budget director, answering a question on oil prices; State Representatives Peppi Bruneau and Kevin Reilly debating the oil price figures used in the budget; and interviews with State Representative Mike Thompson, State Senator Foster Campbell, and State Senator Lawson Swearingen. Johnson next reports on the day’s other headlines. These stories include: State Representative Kevin Reilly apologizing to his colleagues for negative comments he made about Louisiana residents in a newspaper article; Speaker of the House John Alario praising Louisianans; an interview with State Representative Johnny Jackson on a bill dedicating 25% of the 8g offshore oil and gas royalties to the state’s retirement systems; State Representative John Hainkel testifying on bills limiting strict liability judgements against state and local governments; State Senator Fritz Windhorst commending the committee on the compromise bills in the strict liability package; interviews with State Senators William Jefferson and Allen Bares on the strict liability package; an interview with State Representative Richard Baker on a bill allowing prisoners to work on construction projects at prison facilities; an interview with State Representative William Sumlin on his bill setting a cap on the number of state employees based on the state’s population; an interview with State Representative Ken Hand on his bill allowing civil penalties for shoplifting; an interview with T.H. Davidge, a Natalbany grocer, on his support of a package of bills aimed at reducing the consumer price of alcoholic beverages; and an interview with State Representative Ralph Miller on his bill creating a study on the feasibility of building high speed rail between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with State Senator Cliff Newman. He discusses his bill establishing a bill of rights for law enforcement officers during administrative hearings.