Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1997-04-04

Duration: 00:24:56

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1997 | Politics | Government | HIGHER EDUCATION

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Chapa, Arcie Reporter
• Duhe, Jeff Reporter
• Campbell, Foster Speaker
• Perry, Steve Speaker
• Perry, Steve Interviewee
• Guidry, John Speaker
• Savoie, E. Joseph Interviewee
• Jenkins, William Interviewee
• Ducote, Jackie Interviewee
• Foster, Mike Speaker
• Bagneris, Madlyn Speaker
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Calogero, Pascal Speaker
• Breaux, John Speaker
• Smith, Mike Interviewee
• Greene, Tom Interviewee
• Landrieu, Mitch Interviewee
• Hebert, Troy Interviewee
• Walsworth, Mike Interviewee
• Diez, Juba Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 4, 1997, features Robert Collins, Jeff Duhe, and Arcie Chapa reporting on the week’s events at the first week of the 1997 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Chapa first reports on the Senate Education Committee’s hearing on a bill giving the Board of Regents the authority to set overall policy for higher education while retaining the LSU System, Southern University System, and University of Louisiana System. Her report also touches on a bill consolidating all the higher education boards into one superboard. It includes comments by: State Senator Foster Campbell; Steve Perry, the Governor’s chief of staff; and State Senator John Guidry. She also interviews: Steve Perry; Commissioner of Higher Education E. Joseph Savoie; and LSU Chancellor William Jenkins. Collins then conducts an in-studio interview with Jackie Ducote, the president of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR). She discusses the higher education management bills and the proposed changes to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Duhe then reports on the other action at the Legislature, including: highlights of Governor Mike Foster’s opening address; Secretary Madlyn Bagneris of the Louisiana Department of Social Services testifying before the House Appropriations Committee; an interview with State Representative John Alario on a bill creating a Rainy Day Fund; Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Pascal Calogero testifying on the House floor; United States Senator John Breaux testifying in the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee on a package of bills related to vo-tech education and job training; an interview with State Senator Mike Smith on a bill requiring drug testing for public officials; an interview with State Senator Tom Greene on his bill repealing video poker; an interview with State Representative Mitch Landrieu on dedicating the revenue from the New Orleans casino; an interview with State Representative Troy Hebert on his package of bills related to prisoners; an interview with State Representative Mike Walsworth on a bill banning Louisiana Lottery advertisements; and an interview with State Representative Juba Diez on his bill raising the speed limit on the Interstate and highways to 70.