Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-04-18

Duration: 00:26:42

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Education | Merit pay | Teacher certification | Louisiana Association of Educators | Louisiana Federation of Teachers

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Reilly, Kevin, Sr. Interviewee
• Kimball, Clyde Interviewee
• Bajoie, Diana Interviewee
• Epling, Carrel Speaker
• Narcisse, Lawrence J. Interviewee
• Ducote, Jackie Interviewee
• Williams, Rita Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 18, 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: Legislative Fiscal Officer Mark Drennen forecasting a $30 to $40 million budget deficit for the current fiscal year; an interview with State Representative Kevin Reilly, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, on the economy; an interview with State Representative Clyde Kimball on his support for keeping the prevailing wage law; State Representative Mary Landrieu leading a strategy session on women’s issues for the session; and an interview with State Representative Diana Bajoie on her bill requiring the licensing of day care centers. Next, Laura Myers reports on the growing opposition of the teachers’ unions to Governor Edwin Edwards’ $250 million education reform package. Her report includes highlights of a press conference given by Carrel Epling, the president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, following her meeting with Governor Edwards at the Governor’s Mansion. Myers also interviews Lawrence J. Narcisse, the lobbyist for the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE). Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Jackie Ducote, the vice president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), and Rita Williams, the communications director for LAE. They discuss: LAE’s opposition to the merit pay plan for teachers; the Governor’s plan to tie teacher bonuses to their scores on the subject portion of the National Teacher Examination (NTE); the proposed teacher evaluations; and LAE’s opposition to the teacher re-certification plan proposal.