Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1997-05-02

Duration: 00:23:55

Subjects: Government | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1997 | Politics | Workforce development | Louisiana. Legislature

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Duhe, Jeff Reporter
• Bruneau, Peppi Speaker
• Curtis, Israel Speaker
• Holden, Kip Speaker
• Daniel, William Speaker
• Heitmeier, Francis Speaker
• Landry, Ron Speaker
• Jones, Charles D. Speaker
• Drennen, Mark Speaker
• Hebert, Troy Speaker
• LeBlanc, Jerry Luke Speaker
• Vitter, David Speaker
• Shaw, B. L. Speaker
• Stalder, Richard Speaker
• Morrell, Arthur Speaker
• Romero, Errol Speaker
• Foster, Mike Speaker
• Washington, Mary Interviewee
• Skelton, Fred Interviewee
• Forster, Garey Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 2, 1997, features Robert Collins and Jeff Duhe reporting on the week’s events at the fifth week of the 1997 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Duhe first recaps the major action at the State Capitol, including: State Representatives Peppi Bruneau and Israel Curtis debating a bill requiring photo identification before voting; State Representative Kip Holden questioning State Representative William Daniel on his bill taking away retirement benefits from state officials if they are convicted of a felony; State Senators Francis Heitmeier, Ron Landry and Charles D. Jones debating a bill limiting lawsuits for people without automobile insurance; State Representative Troy Hebert questioning Commissioner of Administration Mark Drennen on the administration’s plan to use one-time money to fund one-time projects; State Representative Jerry Luke LeBlanc questioning Commissioner Drennen on funding for technology in the classrooms; State Representatives David Vitter and B. L. Shaw debating a bill providing pay raises to state legislators; State Representative Arthur Morrell questioning Secretary Richard Stalder of the Louisiana Department of Corrections on a bill requiring prisoners to pay a fee for the medical care they receive; State Representative Errol Romero questioning State Representative Troy Hebert on his bill allowing Louisiana prisoners to be sent to other countries; a press conference with Governor Mike Foster discussing proposed reforms to the state’s drug forfeiture laws; and interviews with Mary Washington of the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE) and Fred Skelton of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT) on the reasons why teachers and school employees held a rally at the State Capitol. Collins then conducts an in-studio interview with State Representative Garey Forster, the chairman of the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, who discusses the passage of a bill consolidating 100 job training programs under the management of a new 25-member commission.