Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2016-02-19

Duration: 00:05:56

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 2016 | CIGARETTE TAXES | SPECIAL SESSIONS | Politics | Government | Health Care | STATE BUDGET | Louisiana. Department of Health and Hospitals | Taxes

Contributors:

• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Spires, Kelly Producer
• Woods, Virnado Photographer
• Wester, Scott Speaker
• Henry, Cameron Interviewee
• Reynolds, Jeff Speaker
• Leger, Walt, III Speaker
• Donahue, Mike Speaker
• Shadoin, Robert Interviewee

This segment from the February 19, 2016, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Kelly Spires’ recap of the first week of the first 2016 Special Session of the Louisiana Legislature. These stories include: Scott Wester, the CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, testifying before the House Appropriations Committee, on the hospital’s inability to subsidize the care of uninsured and Medicaid patients; an interview with State Representative Cameron Henry, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, on possible solutions to the state’s $943 million mid-year budget deficit; Jeff Reynolds, the Undersecretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) testifying before the House Appropriations Committee on the impact of budget cuts to DHH; an overview of Governor John Bel Edwards’ proposed budget solutions; State Representative Walt Leger III and Mike Donahue of Shop Rite Convenience Stores testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee on Leger’s bill raising the cigarette tax from 86 cents per pack to $1.08 per pack; the tax options under consideration in the committee; and an interview with State Representative Robert Shadoin on his willingness to look at all budget options to deal with the state’s budget deficit. Host: Charlie Whinham