Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1988-07-01

Duration: 00:26:50

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1988 | SALES TAX | STATE BUDGET | Roemer, Buddy

Contributors:

• Lormand, Ken Host
• Sockman, Roger Reporter
• Fields, Cleo Speaker
• Ewing, Randy Speaker
• Kelly, Don Interviewee
• Munson, Robert Interviewee
• Johnson, Jon Speaker
• Kelly, Don Speaker
• Roemer, Buddy Speaker
• Adley, Robert Interviewee
• Drennen, Mark Interviewee
• Sanderson, Len Interviewee
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Chabert, Leonard Interviewee
• Lalonde, Raymond Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from July 1, 1988, features Ken Lormand and Roger Sockman reporting on the eleventh week of the 1988 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Sockman first reports on the latest action in the Senate, including the defeat of Governor Buddy Roemer’s plan to repeal two cents of the state sales tax exemption on food, drugs, and utilities for a one-year period in order to fund his bridge financing plan for local governments and the Senate Finance Committee’s lack of progress on the state budget. His report includes: State Senators Cleo Fields and Randy Ewing debating the sales tax bill; interviews with State Senator Don Kelly and Robert Munson of the Governor’s Office on the next steps for the proposal; State Senator Jon Johnson questioning State Senator Don Kelly on the bill in the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee; Governor Buddy Roemer discussing the negotiations on the Minimum Foundation Program funding for K-12 education; and an interview with State Representative Robert Adley on the passage of a supplemental appropriations bill. Next, Lormand reports on the Roemer Administration’s lobbying style. His report includes interviews with: Mark Drennen of the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR); Len Sanderson, Roemer’s Chief of Staff; State Representative John Alario; and State Senator Leonard Chabert. Lastly, Sockman recaps the week’s other activity at the session. These stories include: an interview with State Representative Raymond Lalonde on his bill classifying Cajuns as an official minority group in Louisiana; Governor Roemer discussing his intention to veto the bill; and Governor Roemer assessing his job performance in the session so far.