Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-06-26

Duration: 00:26:11

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Local governments | Prevailing wage | STATE BUDGET

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Nicholson, Elwyn Speaker
• Kelly, Don Speaker
• Windhorst, Fritz Speaker
• Johnson, Jon Speaker
• Gulledge, Bill Speaker
• Rayburn, B.B. "Sixty" Speaker
• Chabert, Leonard Speaker
• Bolton, Howard Speaker
• Thompson, Mike Interviewee
• Baker, Richard Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 26, 1985, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Laura Myers first reports on Governor Edwin Edwards’ press conference where he describes the allocation of $100 million of the 8g offshore oil and gas royalties settlement to local governments as a “slush fund” in order to convince legislators to use the remaining $600 million of the settlement for education. Governor Edwards also discusses his plan to veto the repeal of the prevailing wage law. Johnson then reports on the day’s other headlines. These stories include: State Senators Elwyn Nicholson, Don Kelly, and Fritz Windhorst debating a bill allowing families to reclaim land that was taken from their ancestors by Spain in the 18th century; State Representative Jon Johnson speaking in favor of a bill raising the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 in order to not lose federal highway funds; and Bill Gulledge of the Louisiana Motorcycle Riders Association testifying in favor of a bill creating a motorcycle training course in the Department of Education. Next, Myers reports on the debate in the Senate Finance Committee on the state budget and continuing funding for the Louisiana Medical Assistance Program. Her report includes comments by State Senator B.B. “Sixty" Rayburn, State Senator Leonard Chabert, and pharmacist Howard Bolton. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with State Representatives Mike Thompson and Richard Baker. They discuss their opposition to Governor Edwards’ slush fund for local governments and the possibility of overriding his veto of the repeal of the prevailing wage law.