Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1989-05-19

Duration: 00:28:58

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1989 | STATE BUDGET | Louisiana Public Broadcasting

Contributors:

• Lormand, Ken Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Crane, Willie Interviewee
• Dastugue, Quentin Interviewee
• Gomez, Ron Speaker
• Reilly, Sean Speaker
• Bella, V.J. Speaker
• Brinkhaus, Armand Speaker
• Roemer, Buddy Speaker
• Bradley, Allen Interviewee
• Jones, Charles D. Interviewee
• Ackal, Bo Interviewee
• Rayburn, B.B. "Sixty" Interviewee
• Bares, Allen Interviewee
• Dimos, Jimmy Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 19, 1989, features Ken Lormand reporting on the fifth week of the 1989 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. He first reports on the week’s headlines, including: an interview with State Representative John Alario on his bill requiring insurance companies to make prompt payments of insurance claims; an interview with State Senator Willie Crane on his bill allowing greyhound racing in Livingston Parish and Madison Parish; an interview with State Representative Quentin Dastugue on his bill creating a highway trust fund; and highlights of State Representative Ron Gomez, State Representative Sean Reilly, State Representative V.J. Bella, and State Senator Armand Brinkhaus speaking at a rally protesting the proposed funding cuts to Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB). Next, Karen Nachman reports on Governor Buddy Roemer presenting two state budget proposals to the House Appropriations Committee, a balanced budget with $700 million in cuts and a budget with $300 million in cuts. Her report includes interviews with: State Representative Allen Bradley; State Representative Charles D. Jones; State Representative John Alario; State Representative Bo Ackal; and State Senator B.B. “Sixty” Rayburn. Lastly, Lormand conducts a joint interview with Senate President Allen Bares and Speaker of the House Jimmy Dimos. They discuss their options for raising taxes or extending tax exemptions, the timeline for ending the regular session and starting a special session, and the possibility of passing a statewide lottery.