Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1982-04-09

Duration: 00:27:18

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Journalists | Politics | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1982 | STATE BUDGET | Taxes | State Budget Cuts | OIL INDUSTRY | BONDS | CAPITAL OUTLAY | Labor | WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION | Workers' compensation | PREVAILING WAGES | Construction industry | O'Keefe, Michael | Elections, 1983 | Louisiana gubernatorial election, 1983 | Edwards, Edwin W. | Treen, David C., 1928-2009 | CREATIONISM | Education

Contributors:

• Blome, Ron Host
• McMahon, Bill Panelist
• Hargroder, Charles M. Panelist
• Duffy, Joan Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 9, 1982, features Ron Blome leading a panel discussion previewing the 1982 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature with three capitol reporters: Bill McMahon of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate and State Times; Charles M. Hargroder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune/States-Item; and Joan Duffy of United Press International.  They discuss: the decline in state revenues due to falling oil prices; the possibility of budget cuts or new taxes to make-up the budget shortfall; the state’s inability to sell bonds for capital construction because of high interest rates; the other major issues of the session, including a workmen’s compensation reform bill and the repeal of the prevailing wage law; the relationship between the House and Senate; the effect of Senate President Michael O’Keefe’s indictment on his leadership during the session; the 1983 gubernatorial election between Governor Dave Treen and former Governor Edwin Edwards; and the upcoming trial challenging the constitutionality of a new law requiring the teaching of creationism in equal time with the theory of evolution in public schools.