Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1987-05-01

Duration: 00:25:32

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1987 | Politics | Government | STATE BUDGET | Workers' compensation | Louisiana Association of Business and Industry | STEIMEL, ED | UNEMPLOYMENT | Liability (Law)

Contributors:

• Hinton, Rob Host
• Roedts, Lynda Reporter
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Nunez, Sammy Speaker
• Alario, John Speaker
• Steimel, Ed Speaker
• Accardo, Joseph Speaker
• O'Neal, B.F. Speaker
• Clausen, Theresa Speaker
• Jackson, Alphonse Speaker
• Thompson, Isaac Interviewee
• Newman, Cliff Interviewee
• Middlebrooks, J.D. Interviewee
• Gunter, Carl Speaker
• Steimel, Ed Interviewee
• Guste, William Speaker
• Brown, Jim Speaker
• Treen, Dave Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 1, 1987, features Rob Hinton and Lynda Roedts reporting on the second week of the 1987 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Roedts first recaps the week’s activity at the session, including: Governor Edwin Edwards, Senate President Sammy Nunez, and Speaker of the House John Alario testifying in the House Appropriations Committee on their compromise for the revenue projections to be used in the state budget; Ed Steimel of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) and State Representative Joseph Accardo testifying on a bill limiting campaign contributions; State Representative B.F. O’Neal and Theresa Clausen of the Professional Educators of Louisiana testifying on a bill requiring high school juniors to pass an exit exam; State Representative Alphonse Jackson testifying on a bill related to the teaching of sex education in school districts where it is approved; the House Criminal Justice Committee investigating the alleged rape of inmates at the Louisiana Correctional Industrial School (LCIS) in DeQuincy; interviews with Lieutenant Isaac Thompson of LCIS, State Senator Cliff Newman, and LCIS Warden J.D. Middlebrooks on the investigation; and State Representative Carl Gunter testifying on his bill forcing the state to pay interest on late tax refunds. Next, Hinton conducts an in-studio interview with Ed Steimel, the president of LABI. He discusses: LABI’s negotiations with the Louisiana AFL-CIO on a wage tax plan to fund unemployment compensation benefits; workers’ compensation reform; and his support for legislation aimed at limiting strict liability. Hinton then reports on the week’s headlines, including Louisiana Attorney General William Guste announcing the filing of a lawsuit against Browning-Ferris Industries for hazardous waste violations. Lastly, Hinton reports on Louisiana’s 175th birthday celebration held at the State Capitol, including highlights of the speeches given by Secretary of State Jim Brown, former Governor Dave Treen, and Governor Edwin Edwards.