Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-04-28

Duration: 00:27:36

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Drivers' licenses | STATE BUDGET | Education | TRIALS | Edwards, Edwin W.

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Fernandez, Manny Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Bourgoyne, Emile Speaker
• Newman, Jewel Speaker
• Andrepont, Burt Interviewee
• Heitmeier, Francis Interviewee
• Bourgoyne, Emile Interviewee
• Blount, Julius Interviewee
• Hainkel, John Speaker
• Pasqua, Charlie Speaker
• Hightower, John Speaker
• Beach, Randy Interviewee
• Toomy, Joseph Interviewee
• Nicholson, Elwyn Interviewee
• Casey, Tom Interviewee
• Long, Jimmy Interviewee
• Williams, Shirley Interviewee
• Volz, John Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from April 28, 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 Representative Manny Fernandez on the House voting not to override the committee vote on a bill repealing the prevailing wage law; a press conference with Governor Edwin Edwards discussing his support for the prevailing wage law; and Sergeant Emile Bourgoyne of the Louisiana State Police and State Representative Jewel Newman testifying in the House Transportation Committee in favor of a resolution changing the process for creating drivers’ licenses in order to curb the creation of fake drivers’ licenses for underage drinking. Next, Karen Nachman reports on the House Transportation Committee hearing a bill providing for temporary drivers’ licenses after a DWI arrest until the person goes to court. She interviews State Representative Burt Andrepont, State Representative Francis Heitmeier, and Sergeant Emile Bourgoyne of the Louisiana State Police. Next, Johnson presents an interview with State Representative Julius Blount on a bill extending handicapped license plate privileges to disabled veterans. Then, Laura Myers reports on the House Ways and Means Committee and House Appropriations Committee hearing bills to help balance the state budget. Her report includes: State Representative John Hainkel, Charlie Pasqua of the Louisiana Municipal Association, and John Hightower of the Motor Transport Association testifying on a bill allowing local governments to raise the license plate fee; interviews with Randy Beach of the City of Baton Rouge and State Representative Joseph Toomy on the possible cuts to local governments; an interview with State Senator Elwyn Nicholson on his bill exempting candy bars purchased with food stamps from state sales tax; an interview with State Senator Tom Casey on his bill dedicating money to a special economic development fund when oil prices are greater than $16 a barrel; and Governor Edwin Edwards discussing the state budget. Next, Johnson interviews State Representative Jimmy Long on education funding. He then conducts an in-studio interview with State Representative Joseph Toomy and Shirley Williams, the president of the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE). They discuss education reform, education funding, and the concerns of teachers. Lastly, Myers reports on the latest news from the sixth 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 includes highlights of the press conferences on the courthouse steps with Governor Edwin Edwards and United States Attorney John Volz.