Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-05-22

Duration: 00:26:24

Subjects: Education | Fisheries | BLUE LAWS | Prison overcrowding | Campaign Finance | Banking Industry | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Guarisco, Anthony Interviewee
• Osterberger, Ken Interviewee
• Jackson, Alphonse Interviewee
• O'Neal, B.F. Interviewee
• Kember, Harry Interviewee
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Dastugue, Quentin Interviewee
• Forster, Garey Interviewee
• Pelter, Stephen Interviewee
• Breaux, Daryl Interviewee
• Moser, Hal Interviewee
• Darden, John Interviewee
• Jones, Ben Interviewee
• Bourgeois, Joseph Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Bolin, Bruce Interviewee
• Baiamonte, John Interviewee
• Bradley, Allen Speaker
• Thompson, Mike Speaker
• Daniels, Beldon Interviewee
• Gomez, Ron Speaker
• Veillon, Warner Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 22, 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 Anthony Guarisco on a bill requiring the state’s colleges to develop admissions policies; an interview with State Senator Ken Osterberger on his bill allocating the majority of the 8g settlement money into the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund; interviews with State Representatives Alphonse Jackson and B.F. O’Neal on a bill requiring high school seniors to pass an achievement test before receiving a high school diploma; an interview with State Representative Harry Kember on his indictment on federal mail fraud charges; an interview with State Representative Francis Thompson on his bill moving the Office of Forestry into the Department of Agriculture; an interview with State Representative Quentin Dastugue on his bill preventing lobbyists from serving on the Ethics Commission; and an interview with State Representative Garey Forster on his bill preventing nepotism in the judicial branch. Next, Karen Nachman reports on the concerns of fishermen following the Senate Natural Resources Committee’s approval of a package of bills setting limits on redfish. She interviews: Stephen Pelter of GCCA; Daryl Breaux, fisherman; Hal Moser of the Louisiana Seafood Coalition; John Darden, fisherman; and Ben Jones of GCCA. Johnson then presents an interview with Joseph Bourgeois, a police union vice president, on the defeat of a bill allowing municipalities to combine fire and police departments. Next, Laura Myers reports on Governor Edwin Edwards signing the repeal of the Sunday closing laws, or blue laws. Her report includes highlights of Governor Edwards’ press conference, including his comments on the status of the gambling compromise bill. Johnson then presents an interview with State Representative Bruce Bolin on a bill allowing people called before a parish or state grand jury to have their counsel with them. Next, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with John Baiamonte, the chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Prison Overcrowding, who discusses a legislative package addressing the issue. Johnson then presents highlights of the House floor debate on a bill limiting cash campaign contributions, including comments by State Representatives Allen Bradley and Mike Thompson. Lastly, Myers reports on the House Commerce Committee approving a bill allowing interstate regional banking. Her report includes an interview with economic consultant Beldon Daniels, as well as highlights of the committee testimony by State Representative Ron Gomez and Warner Veillon.