Collection:LPB

Genre: Speech

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2019-04-08

Duration: 00:49:34

Subjects: Politics | Government | Edwards, John Bel | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 2019

Contributors:

• Moreau, Andre Host
• Williams, Natasha Reporter
• Erwin, Barry Guest
• Lewis, Elizabeth Performer
• Edwards, John Bel Speaker

Andre Moreau hosts live coverage of Governor John Bel Edwards’ opening address to the 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature on April 8, 2019. Prior to the speech, Moreau, Barry Erwin of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL), and reporter Natasha Williams preview the Governor’s speech and the session. In the House chamber, Elizabeth Lewis, a junior at Covington High School sings the national anthem. During his speech, Governor Edwards discusses: the recent church fires in St. Landry Parish; the state budget surplus; the economy; his administration’s accomplishments in the areas of economic development, Medicaid expansion, ending the waiting list for New Opportunities Waivers for people with disabilities, extending the foster care age, decreasing the number of abortions, strengthening the laws against human trafficking, and coastal restoration projects; and his legislative agenda, including pay raises for teachers and school support personnel, increasing the Minimum Foundation Program for K-12 school funding, increasing access to dual enrollment programs, increasing the minimum wage, equal pay for equal work, maintaining health coverage for people with preexisting conditions, enhancing data reporting for opioid-related deaths, improving the state’s water systems, and the Veterans First Business Initiative. Following the speech, Moreau and Erwin analyze the Governor’s remarks.