Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-06-13

Duration: 00:25:01

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | STATE BUDGET | Retirement | Mental Health | Louisiana. Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Contributors:

• Myers, Laura Host
• Nachman, Karen Host
• Rayburn, B.B. "Sixty" Speaker
• Laborde, Raymond Interviewee
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Gee, Terry Interviewee
• Jones, Charles D. Interviewee
• Jetson, Raymond Interviewee
• Lancaster, Charles Interviewee
• Copelin, Sherman Interviewee
• Heck, Albert Interviewee
• Snyder, Tillie Interviewee
• Kelly, Don Speaker
• McKenzie, Jim Speaker
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Bella, V.J. Speaker
• Fredieu, Charles E. Speaker
• Hayden, Randy Speaker
• Bussie, Fran Interviewee
• LeBlanc, Noelle Interviewee
• Laborde, Raymond Speaker
• Bruneau, Peppi Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 13, 1986, features Laura Myers and Karen Nachman hosting a daily legislative report on the 1986 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Myers first reports on the state budget cuts passed by the Senate and the possibility that the House will pass revenue enhancements. Her report includes highlights of State Senator B.B. “Sixty” Rayburn’s speech on the Senate floor, as well as interviews with State Representative Raymond Laborde, Speaker of the House John Alario, State Representative Terry Gee, State Representative Charles D. Jones, State Representative Raymond Jetson, and State Representative Charles Lancaster. Next, Nachman and Myers report on the day’s headlines. These stories include: an interview with State Representative Sherman Copelin on his resolution urging Congress to repeal a portion of the Food Security Act; an interview with Albert Heck of the Office of Hospitals on a bill giving emergency medical technicians more authority to perform certain procedures without consulting a physician; an interview with Alexandria Mayor Tillie Snyder on the cuts to local governments; State Senator Don Kelly and State Trooper Jim McKenzie testifying on a bill allowing state police who are injured in the line of duty and confined to a wheelchair to be employed without a reduction in disability benefits; an interview with State Representative Terry Gee on his bill changing the eligibility requirements for temporary employees to receive unemployment benefits; and an interview with State Representative Francis Thompson on his bill increasing fees for livestock impounded because they were not fenced in. Nachman then reports on the House Retirement Committee approving a bill changing the retirement age and other retirement eligibility requirements for state workers. Her report includes highlights of the testimony by State Representative V.J. Bella, Charles E. Fredieu of the Professional Firefighters Association, and Randy Hayden of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), as well as State Representative Ed Scogin expressing his support for the bill. Next, Myers conducts an in-studio interview with Fran Bussie, mental health advocate, and Noelle LeBlanc of the Louisiana Office of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. They discuss the impact of potential budget cuts to community mental health programs and state parks and museums. Lastly, Myers and Nachman continue reporting on the day’s headlines. These stories include: the House passing a resolution rescinding the $8,000 pay raise for executive budget officer Ralph Perlman; State Representative Raymond Laborde, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, briefing the House on the budget cuts passed by the Senate; and State Representative Peppi Bruneau debating a bill allowing local governments to levy an occupational license tax.