Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2007-04-25

Duration: 00:56:43

Subjects: Educational change | Hurricane Katrina, 2005 | State legislators | Health care reform | Transparency in government | Louisiana Legislative Session, 2007 | STATE BUDGET | Blanco, Kathleen Babineaux, 1942-2019 | Government accountability | Education, Preschool | Filmed panel discussions | Louisiana. Legislature

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Freeman, Craig Host
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Maginnis, John Interviewee
• LeBlanc, Jerry Luke Interviewee
• Brandt, Jim Interviewee
• Tucker, Jim Interviewee
• Alario, John Interviewee
• LaFleur, Eric Interviewee
• Nickel, Jim Interviewee
• Fort, Ben Speaker
• Burton, Mary Speaker
• Thibodeaux, Bob Speaker
• Martin, Katherine Speaker
• Graves, Michael Speaker
• Ortlieb, Evan Speaker
• Jackson, Karen Speaker
• King, Peter Speaker
• LeBlanc, Diana Speaker
• Pyle, Evan Speaker
• Tallo, Vincent Speaker
• Coats, Becky Speaker
• Kitchen, James Speaker
• Blanco, Kathleen Panelist
• Theunissen, Gerald Panelist
• Erwin, Barry Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from April 25, 2007, features Craig Freeman leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the upcoming 2007 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: John Maginnis, journalist; Commissioner of Administration Jerry Luke LeBlanc; Jim Brandt, president of the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR); State Representative Jim Tucker; State Representative John Alario; State Representative Eric LaFleur; and Jim Nickel, lobbyist. The audience members then discuss their views on how the $29 billion-dollar state budget should be spent over the next fiscal year and education reform. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Governor Kathleen Blanco; State Senator Gerald Theunissen; and Barry Erwin, president of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL). They discuss: how the state budget gets divided among districts in the state; how to safeguard the influx of federal money against corruption; pay raises for teachers; and the Governor’s plan to reform education statewide. This program was preserved through a 2022-2023 Public Broadcasting Preservation Fellowship. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Craig Freeman