Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-04-25

Duration: 00:26:54

Subjects: Prevailing wage | Freeman, Robert L., 1934- | TRIALS | Edwards, Edwin W. | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Teenage pregnancy | Elections, 1986 | United States Senate election in Louisiana, 1986

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Minyard, Frank Speaker
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Jackson, Alphonse Interviewee
• Brady, Bud Interviewee
• Breaux, John Speaker
• Smith, Charlie Interviewee
• Reilly, Kevin Speaker
• Dastugue, Quentin Speaker
• Flory, Gordon Speaker
• Gee, Terry Speaker
• Jackson, Johnny Speaker
• Diez, Juba Interviewee
• Freeman, Bobby Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 25, 1986, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1986 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the day’s headlines, including Orleans Parish Coroner Dr. Frank Minyard testifying on a bill requiring hospital administrators to request consent for organ removal and an interview with State Representative Francis Thompson on his bill reorganizing the Louisiana Department of Agriculture. Next, Karen Nachman reports on the House Committee on Health and Welfare’s approval of a bill creating a special legislative task force to study teenage pregnancy. Her report includes interviews with State Representatives Alphonse Jackson and Bud Brady. Johnson then presents highlights from Congressman John Breaux’s press conference where he refutes rumors that he is dropping out of the 1986 United States Senate election. Next, Laura Myers reports on the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee rejecting a bill to repeal the prevailing wage law. Her report includes: an interview with Charlie Smith, construction lobbyist; testimony by State Representative Kevin Reilly, State Representative Quentin Dastugue, Gordon Flory of the AFL-CIO, and State Representative Terry Gee; State Representative Johnny Jackson debating the bill; and an interview with State Representative Juba Diez. Next, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Lieutenant Governor Bobby Freeman. He discusses: the state budget crisis; whether Louisiana is a welfare state; the state’s dependence on the oil industry and gas industry; the need to diversify the state’s economy; and his view of the bill abolishing the state’s four higher education governance boards. Lastly, Myers reports on the latest news 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 includes highlights of Governor Edwin Edwards’ press conference on the courthouse steps.