Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-04-21

Duration: 00:26:04

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Edwards, Edwin W. | TRIALS | STATE BUDGET | Gambling

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Swearingen, Lawson Interviewee
• Ripoll, Edward Interviewee
• Johnson, Jon Interviewee
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Bankston, William Interviewee
• Scott, Loren Interviewee
• Reilly, Kevin Interviewee
• Dastugue, Quentin Interviewee
• Meredith, Ruthie Interviewee
• Patton, Leatrice Interviewee
• Bankston, Cal Interviewee
• Guste, William Speaker
• Forster, Garey Interviewee
• Bruneau, Peppi Interviewee
• Gomez, Ron Interviewee
• Russell, Robert Interviewee
• Sevario, Joseph Interviewee
• Ackal, Bo Interviewee
• Cobb, Jim Interviewee
• Volz, John Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 21, 1986, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1986 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the state’s projected $750 million to $1 billion budget deficit. Next, he presents highlights from Governor Edwin Edwards’ opening address, where he discusses his plan to legalize casino gambling in New Orleans and a state lottery in order to help balance the state budget. Then, Johnson reports on the reactions of state legislators to the speech, including interviews with State Senator Lawson Swearingen, State Representative Edward Ripoll, State Senator Jon Johnson, and State Representative Francis Thompson. Next, Johnson presents three previously broadcast reports on major issues at the session. These stories include: his report on Governor Edwards’ gambling proposal; Laura Myers’ report on the findings of a recent study on the privatization of the Charity Hospital System in Louisiana; and his report on the disagreement over how to spend the $605 million settlement from the federal government for 8g offshore oil and gas royalties. Lastly, Myers reports on the latest from the fifth week of the retrial of Governor Edwards and four other defendants in New Orleans on fraud and racketeering charges related to the permitting process for building new hospitals and nursing homes. Her report focuses on the ongoing testimony by prosecution witnesses. It includes highlights from press conferences on the courthouse steps with United States Attorney John Volz and Governor Edwards.