Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2018-03-09

Duration: 00:12:55

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 2018 | STATE BUDGET | Politics | Government

Contributors:

• Moreau, Andre Host
• Spires, Kelly Producer
• Woods, Virnado Editor
• Henry, Cameron Interviewee
• Edwards, John Bel Speaker
• Stokes, Julie Interviewee
• O'Donoghue, Julia Panelist
• Hilburn, Greg Panelist
• Gamard, Sarah Panelist

This segment from the March 9, 2018, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Kelly Spires’ recap of the third and final week of the first 2018 Special Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Her report focuses on the Legislature’s failure to fix the $1 billion state budget shortfall. She interviews State Representative Cameron Henry, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and State Representative Julie Stokes. Her report also includes highlights from Governor John Bel Edwards’ post-session press conference. Spires and host Andre Moreau then lead a roundtable discussion with three capitol reporters: Julia O’Donoghue of the New Orleans Times-Picayune and Nola.com; Greg Hilburn of the USA Today Network; and Sarah Gamard of LSU’s Manship School News Service. They discuss: the challenges facing lawmakers in putting together the state budget with a $1 billion shortfall in the Regular Session; the lack of trust and communication between legislators at the Special Session; and the major issues at the upcoming Regular Session.