Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-06-03

Duration: 00:26:33

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Louisiana Charity Hospital System | Health Care | STATE BUDGET

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Cusimano, Charles Speaker
• Jackson, Alphonse Speaker
• Bruneau, Peppi Speaker
• Bajoie, Diana Speaker
• Thompson, Mike Speaker
• Landrieu, Mary Interviewee
• Travis, John Speaker
• Nicholson, Elwyn Interviewee
• Guevera, Rick Speaker
• Knight, Sharon Speaker
• Reitz, Mike Interviewee
• Hudson, Tommy Interviewee
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Adler, Yvonne Speaker
• Hood, Lynn Speaker
• Reilly, Kevin, Sr. Speaker
• Osterberger, Ken Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 3, 1985, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Laura Myers first reports on the heated debate on the House floor on a bill creating a commission to study the overhaul of the Charity Hospital System, including speeches by State Representatives Charles Cusimano, Alphonse Jackson, Peppi Bruneau, Diana Bajoie, and Mike Thompson. She also interviews State Representative Cusimano, the sponsor of the bill. Johnson then reports on the day’s headlines. These stories include: an interview with State Representative Mary Landrieu on her support of a bill repealing the 5% beverage tax; State Representative John Travis speaking on the House floor about the proposed repeal of the prevailing wage law; an interview with State Senator Elwyn Nicholson on why he chose to oppose a bill requiring businesses with special tax exemptions to employ 85% Louisiana residents; Rick Guevera of the Louisiana Hospital Association and Sharon Knight of the Louisiana Medical Society testifying against a bill establishing stiff penalties for medical service providers that deny services to Medicaid and Medicare recipients; interviews with Mike Reitz of Blue Cross and Blue Shield and State Senator Tommy Hudson on a bill allowing members of group health and employee benefit plans to choose their own dentists; an interview with Speaker of the House John Alario on the timeline for the debate on a bill changing the Superintendent of Education from an elective to an appointive position; Yvonne Adler, a special education supervisor, and Lynn Hood, a speech therapist, testifying on a bill related to the licensing and certification requirements for public school speech pathologists and audiologists; and Governor Edwin Edwards announcing the creation of a special committee to study property taxes in Louisiana. Next, Myers presents highlights from State Representative Kevin Reilly, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, speaking to the Baton Rouge Press Club about the state budget deficit. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with State Senator Ken Osterberger. He discusses his bill setting guidelines for the competition between public universities and private businesses.