Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-06-19

Duration: 00:26:20

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

Contributors:

• Myers, Laura Host
• Nachman, Karen Host
• Edwards, Edwin Interviewee
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Andrepont, Burt Interviewee
• Cain, James David Interviewee
• Laborde, Raymond Speaker
• Hebert, Murray Speaker
• Irvin, Melvin Speaker
• Kelly, Don Speaker
• Bagert, Ben Speaker
• Vincent, Ross Speaker
• Norton, Pat Interviewee
• Donelon, Jim Speaker
• Nicholson, Elwyn Speaker
• Jetson, Raymond Speaker
• Ripoll, Bud Interviewee
• Brinkhaus, Armand Interviewee
• McCormick, Wiley Interviewee
• Deano, Eddie Interviewee
• Toomy, Joseph Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 19, 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: an interview with Governor Edwin Edwards on the status of the state budget; interviews with State Representatives Francis Thompson, Burt Andrepont, and James David Cain following a meeting of the Rural Caucus; and an interview with State Representative Andrepont on the efforts to sell $35 million in bonds to update Chennault Air Force Base in Lake Charles. Next, Myers reports on the efforts to restore funding to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in both the House and Senate Natural Resources Committees. Her report includes: testimony and comments in the House Natural Resources Committee by State Representatives Raymond Laborde, Murray Hebert, and Melvin Irvin and State Senator Don Kelly; testimony in the Senate Natural Resources Committee by State Senator Ben Bagert and Ross Vincent of the Ecology Center; and an interview with DEQ Secretary Pat Norton. Myers and Nachman then continue reporting on the day’s headlines. These stories include: State Representative Jim Donelon questioning State Senator Elwyn Nicholson on his bill related to the penalties for amatuer athletes who accept bribes; State Representative Raymond Jetson discussing an amendment to the bill making it illegal to compensate student-athletes; an interview with State Representative Bud Ripoll on his bill taxing marijuana wrapping papers; an interview with State Representative James David Cain on his resolution establishing a legislative committee to study liability reform; and an interview with State Senator Armand Brinkhaus on his bill increasing the lobbyist registration fee. Next, Myers conducts an in-studio interview with Colonel Wiley McCormick, who discusses the impact of the proposed budget cuts to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and the Louisiana State Police. Lastly, Myers and Nachman continue reporting on the day’s headlines. These stories include: an interview with State Representative Eddie Deano on his resolution designating the beignet as the state doughnut; State Representative Joe Toomy attempting to send his bill legalizing a statewide lottery back to committee; and State Senators Don Kelly and Elwyn Nicholson debating a bill expanding the practice of optometry.