Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1979-06-29

Duration: 00:29:34

Subjects: Rationing | OIL INDUSTRY | Oil and gas leases | SERVICE STATIONS | INVESTIGATIONS | Louisiana. Office of Group Benefits | Louisiana. Division of Administration | Roemer, Charles, E., II, 1923-2012 | Continental Assurance Company | Adserve | HEALTH INSURANCE | BROWN, OSSIE | STATE BUDGET | EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT | Elections, 1979 | Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1979 | Campaign advertising | Long, Russell B. | Elections, 1980 | United States Senate election in Louisiana, 1980 | Filmed panel discussions | Journalists | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1979 | Louisiana. Legislature | LEGISLATION | 1970s energy crisis | Gasoline shortages | Politics | Energy

Contributors:

• George, Beth Host
• Jackson, Lyle Photographer
• L'Herisson, Sandra Photographer
• Blome, Ron Reporter
• Blome, Ron Editor
• George, Beth Producer
• Wolf, Thom Director
• Michaud, Larry Panelist
• Lynch, Bill Panelist
• Hill, John Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 29, 1979, features Beth George leading a panel discussion on the 1979 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature with three capitol reporters: Larry Michaud of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate and State Times; Bill Lynch of the New Orleans Times-Picayune; and John Hill of the Monroe Morning World and Shreveport Times.  They discuss: the gasoline shortage and Governor Edwin Edwards’ voluntary rationing plan for gas stations;  State Representative Billy Tauzin’s bill that would force oil companies with oil leases on state-owned land to drill for oil; a bill that would impose a moratorium on gas stations owned by oil companies in order to study their effect on  independent service stations; the investigation by a legislative committee into the alleged mismanagement within the state’s group health insurance program, which is run by two private contractors, Continental Assurance Company (CNA) and Adserve, under the supervision of the Division of Administration; the possibility of an investigation by Baton Rouge District Attorney Ossie Brown into the state insurance program; the status of the Appropriations Bill, or state budget; the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment; the increase in television campaign advertisements for the gubernatorial election; and Senator Russell Long beginning his campaign for re-election in 1980.  This discussion is preceded by footage of State Senator Tommy Hudson being brought into the State Capitol on a stretcher so that he could vote on the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.