Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2009-04-22

Duration: 00:56:13

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 2009 | STATE BUDGET | HIGHER EDUCATION | Health Care

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Freeman, Craig Host
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Erwin, Barry Interviewee
• Clausen, Sally Interviewee
• Matessino, John Interviewee
• Chaisson, Joel Interviewee
• Goidel, Kirby Interviewee
• Whitley, Renee Speaker
• Voigt, Adolph Speaker
• Efurd, Kim Speaker
• Wallace, Bridget Speaker
• Grodner, Mary Speaker
• Coco, Reginald Speaker
• Gallman, George Speaker
• Emmert, James Speaker
• Davis, Angele Panelist
• Tucker, Jim Panelist
• LaFleur, Eric Panelist
• Cross, Pearson Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from April 22, 2009, features Craig Freeman leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the upcoming 2009 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Barry Erwin of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL); Dr. Sally Clausen, the Louisiana Commissioner of Higher Education; John Matessino, the president of the Louisiana Hospital Association; Senate President Joel Chaisson; and Kirby Goidel of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab. The audience members then discuss how the Legislature should address the state’s $1.3 billion budget shortfall. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Commissioner of Administration Angele Davis; Speaker of the House Jim Tucker; State Senator Eric LaFleur, a member of the Senate Finance Committee; and Dr. Pearson Cross, the chair of the political science department at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL). They discuss: the proposed cuts to health care and higher education; the declining state revenues; the reforms needed for the state’s higher education system; Governor Jindal’s priorities; dealing with the dedicated funds in the state budget; the public’s trust of the Legislature; whether the state can solve this year’s fiscal problems without raising taxes; and health care costs. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Craig Freeman