Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-05-23

Duration: 00:25:07

Subjects: SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION | Group homes for people with mental disabilities | People with disabilities | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• McKeithen, Fox Speaker
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Hainkel, John Speaker
• Bussie, Victor Speaker
• Jackson, Alphonse Speaker
• Narcisse, Lawrence Interviewee
• Benson, Tom Speaker
• Fernandez, Manny Interviewee
• McDaniel, Mike Interviewee
• Neeson, Richard Speaker
• Osterberger, Ken Speaker
• Hollis, Ken Interviewee
• Gardner, Jim Interviewee
• Barbre, Charles Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 23, 1985, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Laura Myers first reports on the House Education Committee approving a bill changing the Superintendent of Education from an elective to an appointive position. It includes testimony by: State Representative Fox McKeithen; Governor Edwin Edwards; State Representative John Hainkel; Victor Bussie, the president of the Louisiana AFL-CIO; and State Representative Alphonse Jackson. Johnson then reports on the day’s headlines. These stories include: an interview with Lawrence Narcisse, the lobbyist for the Louisiana Association of Educators, on their opposition to the four education reform bills approved by the Senate Education Committee; Governor Edwin Edwards and New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson signing a 21-year lease for the team to use the Superdome; an interview with State Representative Manny Fernandez on the approval of an emergency order implementing a new automobile emissions program; an interview with Dr. Mike McDaniel, an environmentalist, on his disappointment with the committee approval of a bill removing the Amite River from the Louisiana Natural and Scenic Rivers Program; State Senators Richard Neeson and Ken Osterberger discussing the disruptive audience members during a committee hearing on a bill eliminating group homes in single family neighborhoods; and an interview with State Senator Ken Hollis on the group home bill. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Jim Gardner, a past president of the Louisiana Association for Retarded Citizens, and Charles Barbre, a past president of the Federation of Greater Baton Rouge Civic Associations. They discuss their positions on the group home bill and its potential implications for people with disabilities.