Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-06-06

Duration: 00:26:02

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Automobiles -- Seat belts | SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION | Kindergarten

Contributors:

• Ensminger, John Speaker
• Gomez, Ron Speaker
• Adley, Robert Speaker
• Alexander, Stephanie Interviewee
• Sevario, Joseph Speaker
• Bagneris, Dennis Speaker
• Narcisse, Lawrence Interviewee
• Boudet, Mary Lou Speaker
• O'Neal, B.F. Speaker
• Jackson, Alphonse Speaker
• Bernard, Sherman Interviewee
• Johnson, Jon Speaker
• Ward, Ken Interviewee
• Lowenthal, Margaret Interviewee
• Litchfield, Elmer Interviewee
• Adams, Pete Interviewee
• Versace, Devin Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 6, 1985, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson and Laura Myers first report on the day’s headlines. These stories include: State Representative John Ensminger speaking on a bill changing the Superintendent of Education from an elective to an appointive position; State Representatives Ron Gomez and Robert Adley debating the mandatory seat belt bill; an interview with Commissioner of Administration Stephanie Alexander on Governor Edwin Edwards’ executive order taking away the procurement and commodities storage responsibilities from Superintendent of Education Tom Clausen; State Senators Joseph Sevario and Dennis Bagneris debating a bill allowing the Governor to appoint all eleven members of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); an interview with Lawrence Narcisse, the lobbyist for the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE) on their new education reform pamphlet; Slidell teacher Mary Lou Boudet and State Representative B.F. O’Neal testifying in the House Education Committee on a bill requiring mandatory kindergarten; State Representative Alphonse Jackson discussing his support for the mandatory kindergarten bill; an interview with Commissioner of Insurance Sherman Bernard on a bill creating the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association; State Representative Jon Johnson discussing proposed changes to the law allowing group homes for the mentally disabled in single family residential neighborhoods; an interview with Ken Ward of the Louisiana Moral Foundation on the approval of a study on the repeal of the Sunday closing laws; an interview with State Representative Margaret Lowenthal on her bill giving the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) the authority to regulate transfer facilities that handle hazardous waste; and interviews with East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Elmer Litchfield and Pete Adams of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association on a bill allowing prison guards to shoot prisoners attempting to escape. Johnson then conducts an in-studio interview with Devin Versace of the Louisiana Safety Belt Use Coalition. He discusses the mandatory seat belt bill.