Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1988-06-17

Duration: 00:28:22

Subjects: Louisiana Legislative Session, 1988 | Roemer, Buddy | Education | HIGHER EDUCATION | SALES TAX | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature

Contributors:

• Lormand, Ken Host
• Sockman, Roger Reporter
• Long, Jimmy Speaker
• Delpit, Joe Speaker
• Dimos, Jimmy Speaker
• Alario, John Speaker
• Broussard, John Interviewee
• Travis, John Interviewee
• Roemer, Buddy Speaker
• McCoy, Harold Speaker
• Oubre, Claude Speaker
• Bares, Allen Speaker
• Johnson, Jon Speaker
• Campbell, Foster Speaker
• Fields, Cleo Speaker
• Ullo, Chris Speaker
• Gomez, Ron Speaker
• Hale, Don Speaker
• Ater, Al Speaker
• Bella, V.J. Interviewee
• Burbank, Tom Interviewee
• Vernon, Clara Interviewee
• Hardy, Paul Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 17, 1988, features Ken Lormand and Roger Sockman reporting on the ninth week of the 1988 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Sockman first reports on the House passing Governor Buddy Roemer’s education reform package, which shifts the funding responsibility for school support personnel from the state to the local school boards, following an override of the House Education Committee’s rejection of the proposal. His report includes: State Representatives Jimmy Long, Joe Delpit, Jimmy Dimos, and John Alario debating the bill on the House floor; an interview with John Broussard, the president of the Louisiana School Bus Operators Association; and an interview with State Representative John Travis. Next, Lormand reports on Governor Roemer’s speech before a meeting of school superintendents and school board members. It includes comments by Harold McCoy, a school board member in Monroe, and Dr. Claude Oubre, the acting school superintendent in St. Landry Parish. Lormand then reports on the Senate defeating a bill consolidating the state’s four higher education boards into one board. It includes highlights of the debate on the Senate floor, including Senate President Allen Bares and State Senators Jon Johnson, Foster Campbell, Cleo Fields, and Chris Ullo. Next, Sockman reports on the status of Governor Roemer’s plan to repeal two cents of the state sales tax exemption on food, drugs, and utilities for a one-year period in order to fund his bridge financing plan for local governments. His report includes: State Representative Ron Gomez, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee discussing the bill; Don Hale of Louisiana Power and Light testifying against the bill; State Representative Al Ater discussing his amendment to the bill; and Governor Roemer discussing the bill at a press conference. Lormand then reports on the House approving a plan to pay off the debt of the state employees’ retirement system. It includes interviews with: State Representative V.J. Bella; Tom Burbank, the director of the retirement system; and Clara Vernon, state employee. Lastly, Sockman recaps the week’s other activity at the session, including Lieutenant Governor Paul Hardy testifying in favor of a bill excluding foreign tourists from paying state sales tax.