Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-06-25

Duration: 00:26:49

Subjects: Politics | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Prevailing wage | RIGHT TO WORK | Environment

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Bares, Allen Speaker
• Bussie, Victor Speaker
• Steimel, Ed Speaker
• Lowe, Bob Speaker
• Lang, Andrew Speaker
• Whitehead, Charlotte Speaker
• Crowley, Robert Speaker
• Jackson, Alphonse Speaker
• Russell, Weldon Interviewee
• Bolin, Bruce Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Scott, Jock Speaker
• Jefferson, William Speaker
• Bagert, Ben Speaker
• Vincent, Ross Interviewee
• Bagert, Ben Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 25, 1985, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the Senate voting to repeal the prevailing wage law, including highlights of Senator Allen Bares debating the bill on the Senate floor. Laura Myers then reports on the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee rejecting a bill making right to work a constitutional amendment. Her report includes highlights of the testimony by: Victor Bussie of the Louisiana AFL-CIO; Ed Steimel of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI); Bob Lowe of the Louisiana Right to Work Commission; Andrew Lang of the Louisiana Communications Workers; Charlotte Whitehead of the Louisiana Association of Educators; and Robert Crowley of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. Next, Johnson reports on the day’s other headlines. These stories include: State Representative Alphonse Jackson testifying in favor of a bill repealing tenure for public school administrators; an interview with State Representative Weldon Russell on his bill enacting penalties for people luring children into prostitution; an interview with State Representative Bruce Bolin on a bill allowing retailers and merchants to carry concealed weapons; Governor Edwin Edwards testifying in the Senate Finance Committee on the allocation of the 8g offshore oil and gas royalties settlement; State Representative Jock Scott switching to the Republican Party; and State Senators William Jefferson and Ben Bagert testifying in the House Natural Resources Committee on their two different right to know chemical bills. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with State Senator Ben Bagert and Ross Vincent of the Ecology Center. They discuss: the House Natural Resources Committee dodging another vote on Bagert’s bill; the differences between the two right to know bills; and Bagert’s next steps.