Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1989-03-03

Duration: 00:25:54

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1989 | Tax reform | STATE BUDGET | LOBBYISTS | Affirmative Action | Politics | Government | SPECIAL SESSIONS

Contributors:

• Lormand, Ken Host
• Sockman, Roger Reporter
• Roemer, Buddy Speaker
• Spradley, Tom Interviewee
• Wood, Joe Interviewee
• Duke, David Speaker
• Raymond, M.L. Interviewee
• Jenkins, Woody Interviewee
• Drennen, Mark Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from March 3, 1989, features Ken Lormand and Roger Sockman reporting on the second week of the Special Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Lormand first reports on the week’s headlines. Next, Sockman reports on the status of Governor Buddy Roemer’s tax reform package. His report includes: highlights of Governor Roemer’s second address to legislators, including his complaints about the role of lobbyists in the session; interviews with two lobbyists, Tom Spradley of the Louisiana Council for Fiscal Reform and Joe Wood; Governor Roemer and State Representative David Duke testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee on Roemer’s proposal to set aside 10% of all new highway construction contracts to minority-owned businesses; and an interview with contractor M.L. Raymond. Lastly, Lormand conducts a joint interview with State Representative Woody Jenkins and Mark Drennen, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR). They discuss: their views on Roemer’s tax reform plan; the role of lobbyists; whether Roemer’s package is revenue neutral; possible budget cuts; and what happens to the state budget if the tax reform package does not pass.