Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-06-04

Duration: 00:27:56

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Kindergarten | Early childhood education | COASTAL RESTORATION | Taxes | Motorcycle helmets | PROPERTY TAXES | HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Bares, Allen Speaker
• Epling, Carrel Speaker
• Vincent, Ross Interviewee
• Donelon, Jim Interviewee
• Stroman, Pops Interviewee
• Dastugue, Quentin Speaker
• Goldstein, Jonathan Speaker
• Bella, V.J. Speaker
• Gulledge, Bill Speaker
• Hall, Bobbie Interviewee
• Jefferson, William Interviewee
• Hollis, Ken Interviewee
• Chehardy, Lawrence Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 4, 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: State Senator Allen Bares and Carrel Epling of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers testifying in favor of a bill requiring mandatory kindergarten in public schools; an interview with Ross Vincent of the Ecology Center on his support for a bill establishing a fund to preserve and restore the wetlands damaged by the oil and gas industries; an interview with State Representative Jim Donelon on his bill establishing a cops’ bill of rights; an interview with realtor Bobbie Hall on her support for a bill overhauling the state’s timeshare law; and interviews with State Senators William Jefferson and Ken Hollis on a bill prohibiting cities and municipalities from levying local income taxes. Next, Laura Myers reports on a bill repealing the state’s mandatory motorcycle helmet law. Her report includes an interview with “Pops” Stroman, a motorcycle rider from New Orleans, and Jonathan Goldstein of Maine. It also includes highlights of the testimony in the House Transportation Committee by State Representative Quentin Dastugue, Jonathan Goldstein, State Representative V.J. Bella, and Bill Gulledge of the Motorcycle Riders Association. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Jefferson Parish Assessor Lawrence Chehardy. He discusses: his support of a bill raising the homestead exemption; his support of a bill abolishing property taxes on homes; his work on a commission studying the state’s tax exemptions; and how Louisiana’s property tax system compares to other states.