Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-04-22

Duration: 00:26:05

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Drivers' licenses | STATE BUDGET | Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, Inc. | Gambling | Lotteries

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Nicholson, Elwyn Interviewee
• Bares, Allen Speaker
• Bourgoyne, Emile Interviewee
• Landry, Ron Speaker
• Atkins, Bill Speaker
• Drennan, Mark Speaker
• Perlman, Ralph Speaker
• Delpit, Joe Speaker
• Ackal, Bo Interviewee
• Ryan, Earl Interviewee
• Pliner, Emogene Interviewee
• Jetson, Raymond Interviewee
• Leach, Buddy Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 22, 1986, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1986 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the day’s headlines, including an interview with State Senator Elwyn Nicholson on his bill providing for longer jail sentences for crimes against “defenseless” people, including children and people with disabilities. Next, Karen Nachman reports on a Senate committee approving a bill enacting jail terms for people driving with suspended drivers’ licenses. Her report includes: State Senator Allen Bares presenting his bill to the committee; an interview with Emile Bourgoyne, state trooper; and State Senator Ron Landry and State Senator Bill Atkins, committee members, debating the bill. Then, Laura Myers reports on the House Appropriations Committee voting to recommend budget cuts in order to deal with the state’s projected budget deficit of $750 million to $1 billion. Her report includes: Mark Drennan, legislative fiscal officer, and Ralph Perlman, executive budget officer, testifying before the committee; State Representative Joe Delpit discussing the need to go through the state budget line-by-line; and an interview with State Representative Bo Ackal. Next, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Earl Ryan and Emogene Pliner, the president and vice president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR). They discuss: the work of PAR; the lack of long-term planning to fix the state’s struggling economy; the long-term implications of legalizing casino gambling and a state lottery; and how legislators should tackle the state budget deficit. Lastly, Myers reports on the latest news from the fifth week of the retrial of Governor Edwards and four other defendants in New Orleans on fraud and racketeering charges related to the permitting process for building new hospitals and nursing homes. It includes interviews with State Representative Raymond Jetson and State Representative Buddy Leach discussing Governor Edwards’ level of involvement in the session while attending his trial.