Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-05-12

Duration: 00:26:36

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Edwards, Edwin W. | TRIALS | Louisiana. Department of Health and Human Resources | Prisons | STATE BUDGET

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Edwards, Marion Speaker
• Robinson, Sandra Interviewee
• Ackal, Bo Interviewee
• Cusimano, Charles Interviewee
• Steimel, Ed Interviewee
• Blanco, Kathleen Interviewee
• Landrieu, Mary Interviewee
• Bruneau, Peppi Interviewee
• Bella, V.J. Speaker
• Stovall, James Speaker
• Roberts, Bill Speaker
• Freeman, Bobby Interviewee
• Clausen, Tom Speaker
• Sumrall, Herb Speaker
• Hitt, Richard Speaker
• Bussie, Fran Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 12, 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 Speaker of the House John Alario on the fast pace of the session. Next, Laura Myers reports on the acquittal of Governor Edwin 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. Her report includes highlights of the press conference on the courthouse steps with Governor Edwards and his brother Marion Edwards. It also includes interviews with: Dr. Sandra Robinson; State Representative Bo Ackal; State Representative Charles Cusimano; Ed Steimel of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry; State Representative Kathleen Blanco; and State Representative Mary Landrieu. Johnson then presents an interview with State Representative Peppi Bruneau on his bill related to missing children. Next, Karen Nachman reports on the House Ways and Means Committee deferring a bill that would repeal a law allowing for the sale of bonds to build three to five new prisons. Her report includes testimony by State Representative V.J. Bella, Reverend James Stovall, and Judge Bill Roberts. Johnson then presents an interview with Lieutenant Governor Bobby Freeman on a bill related to tax anticipation notes. Next, Myers reports on the ongoing hearings in the House Appropriations Committee to cut $400-$500 million from the state budget. Her report includes testimony by: Superintendent of Education Tom Clausen; Herb Sumrall of State Civil Service; Richard Hitt, mental health advocate; and Fran Bussie, mental health advocate. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Dr. Sandra Robinson, the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Human Resources. She discusses: the impact of budget cuts on social programs; the list of $50 million in budget cuts that she submitted to the House Appropriations Committee; the statistics for the people that use these state programs; and the federally mandated programs that cannot be cut from the budget.