Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-05-20

Duration: 00:26:35

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Gambling | Juvenile justice, Administration of | Crime | Liability (Law) | HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION | PROPERTY TAXES

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Newman, Cliff Interviewee
• Leach, Buddy Interviewee
• Kabacoff, Lester Interviewee
• Flory, Gordon Speaker
• Casey, Tom Speaker
• DeBrueys, Warren Speaker
• Windhorst, Fritz Speaker
• Kabacoff, Pres Speaker
• Ackal, Bo Interviewee
• Brinkhaus, Armand Interviewee
• Hudson, Tommy Speaker
• Graphia, Tony Speaker
• Harris, Mike Speaker
• Bolar, Emily Speaker
• Morrell, Arthur Interviewee
• Chehardy, Lawrence Interviewee
• Martzell, Jack Speaker
• Fernandez, Manny Speaker
• Reiss, George Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 20, 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. These stories include: an interview with State Senator Cliff Newman on his efforts to introduce a late bill legalizing greyhound dog racing; the Senate voting to repeal the Sunday closing laws, or blue laws; and an interview with State Representative Buddy Leach on the House Ways and Means Committee voting to suspend the $25 state income tax credit for school children. Next, Laura Myers reports on the Senate Judiciary C Committee approving a bill legalizing gambling on cruise ships to nowhere that depart from New Orleans. Her report includes: an interview with Lester Kabacoff of the Riverside Hilton; testimony by Gordon Flory of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, State Senator Tom Casey, Warren DeBrueys of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, and Pres Kabacoff of the Riverside Hilton; and State Senator Fritz Windhorst questioning DeBrueys on his position on gambling. Johnson then continues reporting on the day’s headlines, including an interview with State Representative Bo Ackal on his support of allocating a portion of the 8g settlement for an economic development trust fund, as well as an interview with State Senator Armand Brinkhaus on the approval of his bill providing loans and guarantees for businesses to start building processing plants for seafood, agricultural, and forestry products. Next, Karen Nachman reports on the Senate Judiciary B Committee approving a bill allowing juvenile offenders between the ages of 13 and 15 to be tried as adults for certain offenses. Her report includes State Senator Tommy Hudson, the bill’s sponsor, presenting the bill, as well as testimony by Judge Tony Graphia of Baton Rouge, Mike Harris, and Emily Bolar of the ACLU. Johnson then presents an interview with State Representative Arthur Morrell on the deferral of a package of bills related to the homestead exemption. Next, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Jefferson Parish Assessor Lawrence Chehardy, who discusses his support of doubling the homestead exemption. Johnson then presents the highlights of State Representative Raymond Laborde, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, presenting the state budget on the House floor. Lastly, Myers reports on the ongoing testimony in the House Civil Law Committee on a liability reform package. Her report includes testimony by defense attorney Jack Martzell and State Representative Manny Fernandez, as well as an interview with George Reiss, an attorney for Louisiana Power and Light.