Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1997-04-25

Duration: 00:26:09

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1997 | Politics | Government | Gambling | STATE BUDGET

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Duhe, Jeff Reporter
• Chapa, Arcie Reporter
• Dardenne, Jay Speaker
• Landry, Ron Speaker
• Guidry, John Speaker
• Irons, Paulette Speaker
• Blakes, Vera Speaker
• Winham, Steve Speaker
• Scalise, Steve Speaker
• Triche, Warren Speaker
• Duncan, Ken Interviewee
• Casanova, Tommy Speaker
• Greene, Tom Speaker
• Colomb, Ed Interviewee
• Heitmeier, Francis Speaker
• Hollis, Ken Speaker
• Jordan, Max Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 25, 1997, features Robert Collins, Jeff Duhe, and Arcie Chapa reporting on the week’s events at the fourth week of the 1997 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Duhe first recaps the major action at the State Capitol, including: State Senator Jay Dardenne discussing a bill flipping the fiscal sessions from even-numbered to odd-numbered years; State Senators Ron Landry and John Guidry debating 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; State Senator Paulette Irons questioning Vera Blakes of the Louisiana Department of Social Services on a bill cutting off food stamp benefits to recipients for one year after serving prison time for a felony drug conviction; Steve Winham, budget director, testifying before the House Appropriations Committee; and State Representatives Steve Scalise and Warren Triche questioning the need to hire 40 state employees to install computers in classrooms around the state. Next, Collins conducts an in-studio interview with State Treasurer Ken Duncan. He discusses: the efforts to pay down state debt; the importance of creating a Rainy Day Fund; the proposal to stop electing statewide elected officials, including the State Treasurer; and his campaign debt. Lastly, Arcie Chapa reports on the Senate debate on a bill repealing three forms of gambling, the land-based casino in New Orleans, video poker, and riverboats. It includes comments by State Senators Tommy Casanova, Tom Greene, John Guidry, Francis Heitmeier, Ken Hollis, and Max Jordan. Chapa also interviews Ed Colomb, a truck stop manager in New Orleans.