Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-04-17

Duration: 00:24:21

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | UNEMPLOYMENT | STATE BUDGET | Education

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Steimel, Ed Interviewee
• Brown, Jim Interviewee
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Donelon, Jim Interviewee
• Leach, Buddy Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 17, 1985, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the day’s headlines. These stories include: the United States Department of Labor reporting that Louisiana’s unemployment rate is 11.6%; an interview with Ed Steimel, the president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, on their support of the repeal of the prevailing wage law; an interview with Secretary of State Jim Brown on the need to increase the state’s tourism promotion budget; and an interview with State Representative Francis Thompson on Governor Edwin Edwards’ education reform package. Johnson then conducts an in-studio interview with State Representative Jim Donelon and State Representative Buddy Leach. They discuss: the $120 million state budget deficit; the education reform package; the need to adjust the state’s tax base due to the downturn in the oil and gas industry; how to improve the state’s high unemployment rate; and the importance of improving the public education system.