Budget Battle (2011)
Louisiana Public Square
Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Panel
Place Covered: Louisiana
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 2011-04-27
Duration: 00:57:39
Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | STATE BUDGET | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 2011 | Politics | Government | Taxes | Prisons
Contributors:
- Courtney, Beth Host
- Scott, Robert Travis Host
- Godoy, Al Producer
- Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
- Erwin, Barry Interviewee
- Hazel, Chris Interviewee
- Hood, David Interviewee
- Griffin, Lee Interviewee
- Jackson, Lydia Interviewee
- Dixon, Herbert Interviewee
- Chapman, Darnell Speaker
- Wethington, Michael Speaker
- Singer, Cheryl Speaker
- Triplett, Mary Speaker
- Grubb, David Speaker
- West, Ryan Speaker
- Gerard, Allison Speaker
- Joseph, Moses Speaker
- Melancon, Celeste Speaker
- North, Lewis Speaker
- Krutz, Dan Speaker
- Bell, Mia Speaker
- Miller, James Speaker
- Flournoy, Melissa Speaker
- Hanna, William Speaker
- Fabre, Jonathan Speaker
- Hayes, Mike Speaker
- Lecompte, Raymond Speaker
- Capers, Jasmine Speaker
- Long, Gerald Panelist
- Smith, Pat Panelist
- Rainwater, Paul Panelist
- Cortez, Page Panelist
Description
This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from April 27, 2011, features Robert Travis Scott leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the battle to balance the $1.6 billion state budget shortfall at the 2011 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Barry Erwin, the president of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL); State Representative Chris Hazel; David Hood, the senior health care analyst for the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR); Commissioner Lee Griffin of the Department of State Civil Service; State Senator Lydia Jackson; and State Representative Herbert Dixon. The audience members then discuss: their budget priorities; the Jindal Administration’s plan to sell four state prisons; and raising taxes. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are State Senator Gerald Long, State Representative Pat Smith, Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater, and State Representative Page Cortez. They discuss: their philosophies for balancing the budget; raising the cigarette tax; the importance of early childhood education; the protected funds within the state budget; privatizing prisons; health care costs; the use of one-time money to pay for recurring expenses; the impact of the 2011 statewide elections on the budget debate; Go Grants; and the budget as a moral document.