Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1991-05-31

Duration: 00:26:50

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1991 | Abortion | Louisiana Charity Hospital System | LOBBYISTS | Financial disclosure

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Duhe, Jeff Reporter
• Blanco, Kathleen Interviewee
• Jenkins, Woody Speaker
• Bares, Allen Speaker
• Gottschalk, Sheila Speaker
• Orrick, Helen Speaker
• Devlin, John Speaker
• Johnson, Jon Speaker
• Balch, Burke Speaker
• Goodman, Tom Speaker
• Marx, Paul Speaker
• Bares, Allen Interviewee
• Bowen, Gwen Interviewee
• Carter, Wilford Speaker
• Roach, Randy Speaker
• McPherson, Joe Interviewee
• Jones, Charles D. Interviewee
• Roach, Randy Interviewee
• Copelin, Sherman Speaker
• Dastugue, Quentin Speaker
• Martin, James Interviewee
• Copelin, Sherman Interviewee
• Stine, Tim Interviewee
• Adley, Robert Interviewee
• Bagert, Ben Interviewee
• Lalonde, Raymond Interviewee
• Landrieu, Mitch Interviewee
• Orr, Virgil Interviewee
• Ewing, Randy Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 31, 1991, features Robert Collins, Karen Nachman, and Jeff Duhe reporting on the seventh week of the 1991 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Collins first reports on the week’s headlines, including an interview with Public Service Commissioner Kathleen Blanco on her candidacy in the 1991 gubernatorial election. Nachman then reports on the status of the two abortion bills under consideration. Her report includes highlights of the testimony by: State Representative Woody Jenkins; State Senator Allen Bares; Dr. Sheila Gottschalk, a neonatal specialist; Dr. Helen Orick of the Louisiana Psychiatric Association; Dr. John Devlin of the LSU Law School; Burke Balch of National Right to Life; Reverend Tom Goodman of the Louisiana Baptist Convention; and Father Paul Marx of Human Life International. It also includes highlights of State Senator Jon Johnson questioning the people testifying on the bill, as well as interviews with State Senator Allen Bares and Gwen Bowen of the Louisiana Family Lobby. Next, Duhe reports on the House debate on a bill restructuring the management of the state’s charity hospital system. It includes highlights of the debate on the House floor with State Representatives Wilford Carter, Randy Roach, Sherman Copelin, and Quentin Dastugue. He also interviews: State Senator Joe McPherson; State Representative Charles D. Jones; and State Representative Randy Roach. Nachman then interviews State Representatives James Martin and Sherman Copelin, who discuss Martin’s lobbyist disclosure bill. Lastly, Duhe reports on the session’s other headlines, including: an interview with State Representative Tim Stine on his bill dedicating oil and mineral windfalls to paying down state debt; an interview with State Representative Robert Adley on a bill allowing the trading of Louisiana oil on the futures market; an interview with State Senator Ben Bagert on the defeat of a bill creating term limits for elected officials; an interview with State Representative Raymond Lalonde on a bill legalizing riverboat gambling; an interview with State Representative Mitch Landrieu on his bill related to keeping the files open for consumer injury cases; an interview with State Representative Virgil Orr on his bill related to higher education funding; and an interview with State Senator Randy Ewing on his bill creating an alternative curriculum for high school students who will not be attending college.