Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-04-29

Duration: 00:26:31

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | STATE BUDGET | COASTAL EROSION | Education | New Orleans Saints (Football team)

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Scogin, Ed Interviewee
• Breaux, John Speaker
• Epling, Carrel Speaker
• Nunez, Sammy Speaker
• Gelfand, David Interviewee
• Donelon, Jim Interviewee
• Jones, Charles Interviewee
• Bella, V.J. Interviewee
• McKeithen, Fox Interviewee
• Hand, Skip Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 29, 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 an interview with State Representative Ed Scogin, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, on the Division of Administration’s request for $2.1 million for an appraisal of state buildings and land, as well as highlights of a press conference given by Congressman John Breaux on federal legislation related to coastal erosion and the banning of “cop killer” bullets. Next, Laura Myers reports on two of the major issues at the session, education reform and the state budget deficit. Her report includes: Carrel Epling, the president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, presenting their education reform plan; Senate President Sammy Nunez speaking at a meeting of the Legislative Budget Control Council; and an interview with David Gelfand, the executive director of the Center for Legal Studies on Inter-Governmental Relations, on the council’s reorganization of their budget. Johnson then reports on Governor Edwin Edwards’ $2.5 million plan to aid in the proposed sale of the New Orleans Saints from current owner Jon Mecom, Jr. to Tom Benson. He interviews State Representatives Jim Donelon, Charles Jones, and V.J. Bella. Johnson then conducts an in-studio interview with State Representatives Fox McKeithen and Skip Hand. They discuss: their position on the new plan; the state’s concessions; and the opposition to the plan in north Louisiana.