Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-04-25

Duration: 00:27:05

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Education | STATE BUDGET | Nunez, Samuel B., Jr.

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Bernard, Sherman Interviewee
• Knotts, Jim Interviewee
• Coates, Guy Interviewee
• Lebeuf, Andre Interviewee
• Williams, Melanie Interviewee
• Jackson, Martha Interviewee
• Nunez, Sammy Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 25, 1985, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the day’s headlines. These stories include an interview with Insurance Commissioner Sherman Bernard on a bill protecting policy holders against insolvent insurance companies, as well as an interview with Deputy Superintendent of Education Jim Knotts on Superintendent Tom Clausen’s education reform plan. Next, Laura Myers reports on the behind-the-scenes activities at the State Capitol when the Legislature is in recess. She interviews: Guy Coates of the Associated Press; Andre Lebeuf of House Administrative Services; Melanie Williams of the Department of Agriculture; and Martha Jackson of Magnolia, Mississippi. Lastly, Ken Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Senate President Sammy Nunez. He discusses: the state budget deficit; the difficulty in cutting the budget or raising taxes; the need to diversify the state’s economic base; the ongoing economic recession; Governor Edwin Edwards’ education reform package; and the future of the state.