Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-06-05

Duration: 00:27:09

Subjects: Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Fisheries | STATE BUDGET | Drunk driving | UNEMPLOYMENT | Politics

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Toomy, Joseph Interviewee
• Newman, Cliff Interviewee
• Guarisco, Anthony Interviewee
• Hunter, Ron Speaker
• Moser, Hal Interviewee
• Johnson, Clyde Interviewee
• Louviere, Rhonda Interviewee
• Bagert, Ben Interviewee
• Glusman, Ed Interviewee
• Dastugue, Quentin Interviewee
• Jones, Charles D. Interviewee
• Campbell, Foster Interviewee
• Hainkel, John Interviewee
• Laborde, Raymond Interviewee
• Ackal, Bo Interviewee
• Perlman, Ralph Interviewee
• Windhorst, Fritz Interviewee
• Dastugue, Quentin Speaker
• Jackson, Alphonse Speaker
• Lowenthal, Margaret Interviewee
• Vinyard, Herschel Interviewee
• Bussie, Victor Interviewee
• Nelson, Sydney Interviewee
• Cosse, Clark Interviewee
• Nelson, Sydney Speaker
• Newman, Cliff Speaker
• Bares, Allen Speaker
• Chabert, Leonard Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 5, 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: Louisiana Attorney General William Guste suing Rollins Environmental Services for failing to operate and maintain a proper hazardous waste site; an interview with State Representative Joe Toomy on his bill providing procedural rules allowing for the dismissal of tenured teachers; an interview with State Senator Cliff Newman on his bill increasing the penalties for failing to send a child to school; an interview with State Senator Anthony Guarisco on the defeat of his bill requiring the state’s colleges and universities to create admissions standards; and Ron Hunter, a concerned citizen, testifying on a bill placing restrictions on oil and gas drilling and shell dredging in Lake Pontchartrain. Next, Karen Nachman reports on the House Natural Resources Committee approving a bill limiting the size and number of red drum available to commercial and sports fishermen. Her report includes interviews with: Hal Moser of the Seafood Coalition; Clyde Johnson of Louisiana Fishermen for Fair Laws; Rhonda Louviere; State Senator Ben Bagert; and Ed Glusman of GCCA. Johnson then reports on State Representative Harry Kember pleading innocent to six federal mail fraud charges. Next, Laura Myers reports on the reaction to the Senate Finance Committee cutting $437 million from the state budget. Her report includes interviews with: State Representative Quentin Dastugue; State Representative Charles D. Jones; State Senator Foster Campbell; State Representative John Hainkel; State Representative Raymond Laborde; State Representative Bo Ackal; Ralph Perlman, executive budget officer; and State Senator Fritz Windhorst. Johnson then reports on State Representatives Quentin Dastugue and Alphonse Jackson debating Dastugue’s attempt to override a committee vote on his bill privatizing Charity Hospital in New Orleans. Next, Karen Nachman reports on two bills related to DWIs and raising the state’s minimum drinking age to 21. She interviews State Representative Margaret Lowenthal and Herschel Vinyard of LSU. Lastly, Laura Myers reports on the Senate defeating a bill lowering unemployment compensation benefits. Her report includes interviews with Victor Bussie of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, State Senator Sydney Nelson, and Clark Cosse of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). It also includes highlights of State Senators Sydney Nelson, Cliff Newman, Allen Bares, and Leonard Chabert debating the bill on the Senate floor.