Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-05-21

Duration: 00:27:05

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Education | Gambling | Environment

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Forster, Garey Interviewee
• Bagneris, Dennis Interviewee
• Rayburn, B.B. "Sixty" Interviewee
• Lowenthal, Margaret Interviewee
• Spears, Jesse Interviewee
• Thompson, Mike Interviewee
• D'Gerolamo, Eddie Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Norton, Steve Speaker
• Barthelemy, Sidney Speaker
• Cannatella, Ron Speaker
• McNeil, Ed Interviewee
• Steimel, Ed Speaker
• Clayton, Lynn Speaker
• Stovall, John Speaker
• Freeman, Bobby Interviewee
• Fernandez, Manny Interviewee
• Norton, Pat Interviewee
• Accardo, Joseph Speaker
• Bajoie, Diana Speaker
• Bradley, Allen Speaker
• Jenkins, Woody Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 21, 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. These stories include: an interview with State Representative Garey Forster on the defeat of his bill removing the Governor’s power to appoint members to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); an interview with State Senator Dennis Bagneris on the approval of his bill prohibiting the use of lie detector tests as a condition of employment; and an interview with State Senator B.B. “Sixty” Rayburn, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, on the state budget moving to his committee. Next, Karen Nachman reports on the House Education Committee deferring a bill raising the compulsory age for school attendance from fifteen to seventeen. Her report includes interviews with State Representative Margaret Lowenthal and Jesse Spears, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE). Johnson then continues reporting on the day’s headlines, including an interview with State Representative Mike Thompson on a bill reducing weekly extended unemployment benefits, as well as an interview with State Representative Eddie D’Gerolamo on the deferral of his bill exempting records from the Attorney General’s and other offices from the Public Records Act. Next, Laura Myers reports on a House committee approving a gambling compromise bill legalizing three casinos in Orleans Parish. Her report includes testimony by: Governor Edwin Edwards; Steve Norton of Resorts International, Inc.; New Orleans Mayor Sidney Barthelemy; Ron Cannatella of the Police Association of New Orleans; Ed Steimel of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI); Lynn Clayton; and Reverend John Stovall. She also interviews Ed McNeil of the Tourism Commission and Mayor Barthelemy. Johnson then presents an interview with Lieutenant Governor Bobby Freeman on the approval of a bill moving the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism under the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. Next, Karen Nachman reports on the House Natural Resources Committee approving a package of bills giving the state the same authority as the federal government in regulating hazardous waste clean-up. Her report includes interviews with State Representative Manny Fernandez and Secretary Pat Norton of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Johnson then conducts an in-studio interview with State Representative Manny Fernandez, who discusses the state’s environmental regulations related to hazardous waste clean-up. Lastly, Johnson reports on the House floor debate on a campaign finance reform bill. His report includes comments by State Representatives Joseph Accardo, Diana Bajoie, Allen Bradley, and Woody Jenkins.