Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1989-06-30

Duration: 00:27:07

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1989 | Politics | Government | STATE BUDGET | Tax reform

Contributors:

• Zewe, Charles Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Roemer, Buddy Speaker
• Jetson, Raymond Interviewee
• Ackal, Bo Interviewee
• Jefferson, William Interviewee
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Bankston, Larry Interviewee
• Rayburn, B.B. "Sixty" Speaker
• Adley, Robert Interviewee
• Mills, P.J. Interviewee
• Campbell, Foster Interviewee
• Patti, Frank Interviewee
• Kimball, Clyde Interviewee
• Bruneau, Peppi Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 30, 1989, features Charles Zewe and Karen Nachman reporting on the eleventh week of the 1989 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Nachman first reports on Governor Buddy Roemer’s controversial call for a special session and the House rejecting the Senate’s version of the state budget and moving it to a conference committee. Her report includes highlights of Governor Roemer’s press conference announcing his plans for the special session, as well as highlights of State Senator B.B. “Sixty” Rayburn discussing the state budget on the Senate floor. Nachman also interviews: State Representative Raymond Jetson; State Representative Bo Ackal; State Senator William Jefferson; State Representative Francis Thompson; State Senator Larry Bankston; and State Representative Robert Adley. Zewe then conducts an in-studio interview with P.J. Mills, Governor Roemer’s chief of staff and a former state legislator. He discusses: people not understanding what Governor Roemer is trying to accomplish; the need for the special session; the lack of consensus in the Legislature; the permanent solutions to the state’s fiscal problems; Governor Roemer’s political standing; and the possibility of Governor Roemer using his line item veto. During the interview, Zewe also presents clips of interviews with state legislators, including: State Senator Foster Campbell; State Representative Frank Patti; State Representative Clyde Kimball; and State Representative Peppi Bruneau.