Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1984-05-30

Duration: 00:24:31

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1984 | Politics | Government | Taxes | Teacher pay raises | RIGHT TO WORK | Banking Industry | Right to die | Living wills

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Ekings, Robyn Host
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Lowe, Robert Speaker
• Kiefer, Nat Speaker
• Dunkelberg, William Speaker
• Fernandez, Manny Interviewee
• Le Van, Gerald Interviewee
• Gahan, Patrick Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 30, 1984, features Ken Johnson and Robyn Ekings hosting a daily legislative report on the 1984 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the day’s headlines. These stories include: highlights of a press conference with Governor Edwin Edwards discussing the status of his $293 million tax plan to fund teacher pay raises; Lafayette contractor Robert Lowe and State Senator Nat Kiefer testifying on Kiefer’s bill repealing right to work; and highlights of a speech by William Dunkelberg, the chief economist with the National Federation of Independent Businesses, on his opposition to the multi-parish banking bill. Next, Ekings reports on the right to die bill, which allows individuals to sign a living will if they do not want their life prolonged artificially if they are terminally ill or injured. Her report includes interviews with State Representative Manny Fernandez and attorney Gerald Le Van. Lastly, Johnson and Ekings conduct an in-studio interview with Dr. Patrick Gahan, an internal medicine specialist, and attorney Gerald Le Van. They discuss: the difference between a living will and euthanasia; the increase in the number of living wills; and the criteria for brain death.