Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1989-02-17

Duration: 00:25:48

Subjects: Franchises (Retail trade) | Roemer, Buddy | Tax reform | Employment | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | Women-owned business enterprises

Contributors:

• Lormand, Ken Host
• Sockman, Roger Reporter
• Roemer, Buddy Speaker
• Gerald, Don Interviewee
• Martin, Joe Interviewee
• Juneau, Dan Interviewee
• Cathey, Conrad Interviewee
• Drennen, Mark Interviewee
• Lacy, Lowry Interviewee
• Justis, Robert Interviewee
• Runnels, Pam Interviewee
• Folk, Ellen Interviewee
• Mohn, David Interviewee
• Scott, Linda Interviewee
• Poree, Loretta Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from February 17, 1989, features Ken Lormand and Roger Sockman reporting on Governor Buddy Roemer’s revised tax reform plan, which aims to stabilize the state’s tax structure and create jobs. Sockman first reports on the details of the plan, which calls for changes to several taxes, including sales taxes, incomes taxes, the gas tax, and property taxes. His report includes highlights of a press conference with Governor Roemer discussing the plan. He also interviews: Don Gerald, restaurant manager; Joe Martin, attorney; Dan Juneau, the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI); Conrad Cathey, the tax assessor in Sabine Parish; and Mark Drennen, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR). Lormand then presents a series of three reports on employment and job creation in Louisiana. First, he interviews Lowry Lacy of the Louisiana Department of Labor, who discusses: the make-up of Louisiana’s workforce; the decrease in manufacturing jobs and increase in service jobs; and the obstacles facing workers. Next, he reports on the potential for franchising to bring jobs to the state. He interviews: Dr. Robert Justis, the director of the LSU Entrepreneur Institute; Pam Runnels, the co-owner of Critter Care in Baton Rouge; Ellen Folks of Guarantee Girls in Baton Rouge; and David Mohn, franchisee. Lastly, Lormand reports on the challenges facing women-owned businesses. He interviews: Linda Scott, the president of the Women Business Owners Association; Ellen Folks of Guarantee Girls; Pam Runnels of Critter Care; and Loretta Poree of the United States Small Business Administration.