Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1979-05-11

Duration: 00:27:59

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Journalists | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1979 | Louisiana. Legislature | LEGISLATION | TEACHERS | Henry, E. L. "Bubba" | Kindergarten | LOBBYISTS | HAZARDOUS WASTES | Government reorganization | Louisiana. Department of Natural Resources | Louisiana State Capitol (Baton Rouge, La.) | RALLIES | Politics | Sex Education | Education | Environment

Contributors:

• Blome, Ron Host
• Jackson, Lyle Photographer
• Irving, John Photographer
• Blome, Ron Reporter
• Blome, Ron Editor
• George, Beth Producer
• Michaud, Larry Panelist
• Courtney, Bob Panelist
• Buchanan, Don Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 11, 1979, features Ron Blome leading a panel discussion on the 1979 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature with three capitol reporters: Larry Michaud of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate and State Times; Bob Courtney of WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge; and Don Buchanan of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate and State Times.  They discuss: the emotional debate over a bill that would lift the ban on the teaching of sex education in public schools; Speaker of the House Bubba Henry’s bill that would create a professional review board to root out incompetent teachers in the school system; a bill that would require local school systems to provide kindergarten; the role of lobbyists in the session; the growing public awareness of the thousands of hazardous waste pits in the state; and the chances of passage for a bill that would consolidate the state’s environmental regulatory functions under the Department of Natural Resources.  The discussion was preceded by footage from a rally on the steps of the State Capitol by opponents of the sex education bill.