Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-06-16

Duration: 00:26:11

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Louisiana. Department of Environmental Quality | STATE BUDGET

Contributors:

• Myers, Laura Host
• Nachman, Karen Host
• Bolin, Bruce Interviewee
• Deen, Jesse Interviewee
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Roemer, Buddy Interviewee
• Tauzin, Billy Interviewee
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Guste, William Interviewee
• Copelin, Sherman Speaker
• Drennan, Mark Speaker
• Koch, John Speaker
• Chavanne, John Speaker
• Russell, Weldon Speaker
• Jackson, Alphonse Speaker
• Jefferson, William Interviewee
• Perlman, Ralph Speaker
• Chittam, Kathy Speaker
• Frost, Brett Speaker
• Norton, Pat Interviewee
• Loy, Fred Interviewee
• Bares, Allen Speaker
• Nunez, Sammy Speaker
• Jumonville, J.E. Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 16, 1986, features Laura Myers and Karen Nachman hosting a daily legislative report on the 1986 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. They first report on the day’s headlines. These stories include: interviews with State Representatives Bruce Bolin and Jesse Deen after a meeting between Governor Edwin Edwards and legislators at the Governor’s Mansion on the state budget; an interview with Speaker of the House John Alario on Governor Edwards’ view that the budget is $200 million out-of-balance; interviews with Congressman Buddy Roemer and Congressman Billy Tauzin on the work of the Legislature; an interview with State Representative Francis Thompson on his hope that Governor Edwards will take more of a leadership role on the budget debate; and an interview with Louisiana Attorney General William Guste on his ongoing audit of Texaco for unpaid royalties. Next, Myers reports on the day’s action in the House Ways and Means Committee. Her report includes State Representative Sherman Copelin questioning Mark Drennan of the Legislative Fiscal Office on the state budget, as well as John Koch of the Louisiana Press Association and printer John Chavanne testifying against a bill taxing printers. Nachman and Myers then continue reporting on the day’s headlines. These stories include: State Representative Weldon Russel testifying on his bill requiring the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to publish the name and pictures of missing children in “Louisiana Conservationist Magazine”; State Representative Alphonse Jackson testifying on his bill related to the childhood vaccine program; an interview with State Senator William Jefferson on his bill removing the cap on the tax revenue that can be generated for the New Orleans Tourist and Convention Commission; Ralph Perlman, executive budget officer, testifying on a bill placing a state hiring freeze on custodial workers; Kathy Chittam of the Chiropractors Association and Brett Frost of the Louisiana Hospital Association testifying on a bill requiring hospitals to include a professional health care staff; and an interview with State Senator Cecil Picard on a bill designating a state doll. Next, Myers conducts an in-studio interview with Secretary Pat Norton of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Fred Loy, the president of the Louisiana Chemical Association. They discuss the impact of the proposed budget cuts to DEQ. Lastly, Myers presents highlights of State Senators Allen Bares, Sammy Nunez, and J.E. Jumonville debating a bill giving oil and gas companies a three-year break from paying severance taxes if the price of oil is below $29.50 a barrel.