Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1991-06-21

Duration: 00:26:52

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1991 | Abortion | Retirement | STATE BUDGET | Politics | Government

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Duhe, Jeff Reporter
• Bares, Allen Speaker
• Theriot, Sam Speaker
• Fontenot, Sharon Interviewee
• Bartlett, Terri Interviewee
• Roemer, Buddy Speaker
• Guste, William Speaker
• Jenkins, Woody Interviewee
• McCleary, Mike Interviewee
• Bella, V.J. Interviewee
• Landrieu, Mary Interviewee
• Stine, Dennis Interviewee
• Nunez, Sammy Interviewee
• Dimos, Jimmy Interviewee
• Drennen, Mark Speaker
• Alario, John Speaker
• Bruneau, Peppi Speaker
• Bagert, Ben Interviewee
• Johnson, Jon Speaker
• Bussie, Fran Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 21, 1991, features Robert Collins, Karen Nachman, and Jeff Duhe reporting on the tenth week of the 1991 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Collins first reports on the week’s headlines, including former Banking Commissioner Fred Dent announcing his candidacy in the 1991 gubernatorial election. Nachman then reports on the Legislature’s historic veto override of the anti-abortion bill. Her report includes: highlights of State Senator Allen Bares and State Representative Sam Theriot presenting the veto override on the Senate and House floors, respectively; interviews with Sharon Fontenot of Louisiana Right to Life and Terri Bartlett of Planned Parenthood; a press conference with Governor Buddy Roemer’s response to veto override; a press conference with Attorney General William Guste discussing the timeline for legal challenges; and an interview with State Representative Woody Jenkins on his plan to offer a resolution to take away the exceptions from the bill. Next, Duhe reports on the proposed cost-of-living raise for retired state employees and its possible impact on the retirement system’s unfunded accrued liability, or UAL. He interviews: State Representative Mike McCleary, the bill’s sponsor; State Fire Marshal V.J. Bella, a former state legislator; State Treasurer Mary Landrieu; and Commissioner of Administration Dennis Stine. Nachman then interviews Senate President Sammy Nunez and Speaker of the House Jimmy Dimos, who discuss the status of the state budget. Lastly, Duhe reports on the session’s other headlines, including: Mark Drennen of the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) testifying in favor of the repeal of the state inventory tax on businesses; State Representative John Alario questioning Drennen; State Representative Peppi Bruneau testifying on his bill regulating video poker machines; an interview with State Senator Ben Bagert on his bill calling for the death penalty for drug dealers who employ children; State Senator Jon Johnson questioning a bill changing the management of the state’s charity hospital system; and an interview with Fran Bussie of the Louisiana AFL-CIO on the charity hospital bill.