Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1997-05-23

Duration: 00:25:34

Subjects: Louisiana. Office of State Parks | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1997 | Politics | Government | Environment | STATE BUDGET

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Duhe, Jeff Reporter
• Chapa, Arcie Reporter
• Windhorst, Steve Interviewee
• Holden, Kip Interviewee
• Barton, Robert Interviewee
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Greene, Tom Speaker
• Rombach, John Interviewee
• Perkins, Tony Speaker
• DeWitt, Charlie Speaker
• Jenkins, Woody Speaker
• Donelon, Jim Speaker
• Riddle, Charles Speaker
• Green, Kyle Speaker
• Fontenot, Clo Speaker
• Trahan, Randy Interviewee
• Johnson, Stuart Interviewee
• Blanco, Kathleen Interviewee
• Boehringer, Bo Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 23, 1997, features Robert Collins, Jeff Duhe, and Arcie Chapa reporting on the week’s events at the eighth week of the 1997 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Collins first interviews State Representative Steve Windhorst and State Representative Kip Holden, who discuss their differing views on the environmental self-audit bill for businesses. Next, Duhe recaps the major action at the State Capitol, including: interviews with State Representatives Robert Barton and John Alario on the Foster Administration’s decision not to call a special session to renew the one-cent sales tax on food and utilities; State Senator Tom Greene questioning his colleagues’ commitment to education reform; an interview with John Rombach of the Legislative Fiscal Office on not needing the one-cent sales tax renewal to fund teacher pay raises; State Representatives Tony Perkins, Charlie DeWitt, and Woody Jenkins debating a bill allowing horse racing bets to be taken over the phone; State Representatives Jim Donelon, Charles Riddle, and Kyle Green debating a bill limiting lawsuits against lawyers who do legal charity work; and State Representative Clo Fontenot testifying on his bill requiring drug testing for welfare recipients. Lastly, Chapa reports on the increased funding for state parks. Her report also touches on a proposed bill converting a portion of Lake Fausse Pointe State Park into hunting grounds. She interviews: Randy Trahan, chief of parks operations; Stuart Johnson, parks deputy assistant; Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Blanco; and Bo Boehringer, parks public relations.