Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1985-06-28

Duration: 00:27:28

Subjects: Politics | SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1985 | Prevailing wage | Construction projects | Education | STATE BUDGET

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Reilly, Kevin, Sr. Speaker
• Gee, Terry Speaker
• Jackson, Johnny Interviewee
• Smith, Charlie Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Interviewee
• Theriot, Sam Speaker
• Long, Jimmy Speaker
• Jackson, Alphonse Speaker
• Epling, Carrel Interviewee
• Narcisse, Lawrence Interviewee
• Bruneau, Peppi Interviewee
• Perlman, Ralph Interviewee
• Drennan, Mark Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 28, 1985, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1985 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the House of Representatives considering a resolution to suspend the prevailing wage law for one year following Governor Edwin Edwards’ announcement that he will veto the repeal of the law. His report includes: State Representatives Kevin Reilly and Terry Gee speaking on the House floor; interviews with State Representative Johnny Jackson and construction lobbyist Charlie Smith; and an interview with Governor Edwards on his view that the resolution is unconstitutional. Next, Laura Myers reports on the House defeating a bill in Governor Edwards’ education reform package requiring new teachers to take a quality assessment test to ensure teacher competency. Her report includes: State Representatives Sam Theriot, Jimmy Long, and Alphonse Jackson debating the bill on the House floor; an interview with Carrel Epling, the president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, on why they supported the bill; an interview with Lawrence Narcisse, a lobbyist for the Louisiana Association of Educators, on why they opposed the bill; and an interview with Governor Edwards on his reaction to the defeat of the bill. Johnson then interviews State Representative Peppi Bruneau, who discusses the status of the bill making the Superintendent of Education an appointive instead of elective position. Lastly, Myers conducts an in-studio interview with Ralph Perlman, the executive budget officer, and Mark Drennan of the Legislative Fiscal Office. They discuss: their differing state budget deficit projections; funding for the education reform package; the 8g offshore oil and gas royalties settlement; and the feasibility of reducing the number of state employees by 6,000 in one year.