Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-04-23

Duration: 00:26:21

Subjects: HIGHER EDUCATION | STATE BUDGET | Liability (Law) | Insurance Industry | TRIALS | Edwards, Edwin W. | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Hudson, Tommy Interviewee
• Windhorst, Fritz Interviewee
• Kiefer, Nat Speaker
• Nunez, Sammy Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Nicholson, Elwyn Interviewee
• Warren, Greg Interviewee
• Silverman, Jim Speaker
• Meek, Tom Interviewee
• Charton, Steve Interviewee
• Moore, Charles Interviewee
• Bernard, Sherman Interviewee
• Volz, John Speaker
• Fawer, Mike Speaker
• Hollis, Ken Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 23, 1986, features Ken Johnson hosting a daily legislative report on the 1986 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Johnson first reports on the day’s headlines. These stories include: an interview with State Senator Tommy Hudson on the Senate working to clear the calendar of non-controversial bills; an interview with State Senator Fritz Windhorst on a bill outlawing the practice of an incumbent dropping out of an election after qualifying in favor of a family member; and an interview with Senate President Sammy Nunez on his proposal to rename the assembly center at the University of New Orleans (UNO) in honor of the late State Senator Nat Kiefer. Next, Laura Myers reports on the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee approving a constitutional amendment to raise the $3 license plate fee. It includes interviews with State Senator Fritz Windhorst and State Senator Elwyn Nicholson, as well as Governor Edwin Edwards discussing his belief that the voters will not pass a fee increase during his opening address. Next, Karen Nachman reports on a rally held by college students from around the state against the proposed state budget cuts to higher education. Her report includes an interview with Greg Warren, the student government president at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL), as well as highlights of the speeches made by Jim Silverman of Students against Budget Cuts and State Senator Tommy Hudson. Then, Johnson presents a rebroadcast of Myers’ report on the high cost of liability insurance. Johnson then conducts an in-studio interview with Charles Moore, the vice president of the Louisiana Trial Lawyers Association, and Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Sherman Bernard. They debate the reasons for the high cost of liability insurance. Lastly, Myers reports on the latest news from the fifth week of the retrial of Governor Edwards and four other defendants in New Orleans on fraud and racketeering charges related to the permitting process for building new hospitals and nursing homes. Her report focuses on the prosecution’s decision not to call John Landry, an employee at the Louisiana Department of Health and Human Services, who testified during the first trial. It includes highlights of the press conferences on the courthouse steps by United States Attorney John Volz, defense attorney Mike Fawer, and Governor Edwin Edwards, as well as an interview with State Senator Ken Hollis on the controversial practice of counter-letters.