Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-05-31

Duration: 00:26:21

Subjects: Republican Party | Environment | Oil wells - - Abandonment | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Immigration | Illegal Aliens | Animal welfare

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Tabor, Jesse Speaker
• Delpit, Joe Interviewee
• Cusimano, Charles Speaker
• Carter, Wilford Speaker
• Smart, Annie Speaker
• Bussie, Victor Speaker
• Felknor, Robert Interviewee
• Miller, Rick Interviewee
• Baker, Richard Speaker
• Fahrenkopf, Frank, Jr. Speaker
• Lowenthal, Margaret Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 31, 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: Jesse Tabor of the U.S. Border Patrol testifying in favor of a bill prohibiting the employment of illegal immigrants; an interview with State Representative Joe Delpit on the bill repealing the prevailing wage law being sent to the House floor for consideration; State Representative Charles Cusimano testifying on his bill to study an alternative health care system to the Charity Hospital System; State Representative Wilford Carter, a member of the House Welfare Committee, speaking against the bill; Annie Smart and Victor Bussie of the Louisiana AFL-CIO testifying against Cusimano’s bill; an interview with Robert Felknor of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association on a bill prohibiting foreign ownership of agricultural land; and an interview with Rick Miller of the Coalition of Animal Activists on his disappointment with the weakening of several animal welfare bills, including one setting minimum standards for animal shelters. Next, Laura Myers reports on the Democratic state legislators switching to the Republican Party. Her report includes State Representative Richard Baker announcing his move to the Republican Party and a speech by Frank Fahrenkopf, Jr., the chairman of the Republican National Committee, on Operation Open Door, their campaign to recruit new members from the Democratic Party. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with State Representative Margaret Lowenthal. She discusses: her bill prohibiting the use of abandoned oil wells as injection wells for hazardous waste; other environmental legislation under consideration; her bill lowering the drinking age; and her view that there should be a special session to address Governor Edwards’ education reform package.