Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-06-20

Duration: 00:26:27

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Housing | Education | Environment | Prison overcrowding | Phelps, C. Paul

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Turnley, Richard Speaker
• Nicholson, Elwyn Speaker
• Reilly, Kevin, Sr. Speaker
• Jefferson, William Interviewee
• Bagert, Ben Interviewee
• Perez, Nick Interviewee
• Fernandez, Manny Interviewee
• McKeithen, Fox Interviewee
• Clayton, Lynn Interviewee
• Hollis, Ken Interviewee
• Matheson, Margaret Speaker
• Taylor, Scott Speaker
• Mouton, Sonny Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Waddell, Bobby Speaker
• Cuneo, Susan Speaker
• Phelps, C. Paul Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 20, 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 State Senators Richard Turnley and Elwyn Nicholson debating Turnley’s fair housing bill and highlights from a press conference with State Representative Kevin Reilly addressing a newspaper article where he called state workers “stupid and lazy.” Laura Myers then reports on a majority of the members of the House Natural Resources Committee not showing up to a committee hearing on two right to know chemical bills. Her report includes interviews with: State Senator William Jefferson, a bill sponsor; State Senator Ben Bagert, a bill sponsor; Nick Perez of the Louisiana Retailers Association; State Representative Manny Fernandez, committee member; and State Representative Fox McKeithen, committee member. Next, Johnson continues reporting on the day’s headlines. These stories include: interviews with Lynn Clayton of the Baptist Messenger and State Senator Ken Hollis on Hollis’ bill related to the regulation of charitable bingo games; Margaret Matheson of the St. Tammany School Board and Scott Taylor of the Central Louisiana State Hospital testifying on a bill moving oversight of Special School District 1 from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services; an interview with Sonny Mouton, an advisor to the governor, on bills related to school accountability and early childhood education; a press conference with Governor Edwin Edwards discussing the status of his education reform package; State Representative Bobby Waddell testifying on his bill enacting criminal penalties for spousal rape; and Susan Cuneo of Youth and Family Services testifying on a bill allowing the court to remove the siblings of a child abuse victim from their home. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Secretary C. Paul Phelps of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, who discusses prison overcrowding. Please note a section of black with no video from 00:18:41 to 00:19:56.