Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-05-16

Duration: 00:25:48

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | UNEMPLOYMENT | Agriculture | Gambling | Campaign Finance

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Thompson, Mike Speaker
• Roberts, James Speaker
• Bernard, Sherman Interviewee
• Laborde, Raymond Interviewee
• Odom, Bob Interviewee
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Davis, Mona Interviewee
• D'Gerolamo, Edward Interviewee
• Lanning, Bucky Interviewee
• Lohman, Jack Interviewee
• Virgets, Ronnie Interviewee
• Broussard, Spanky Interviewee
• Bradley, Allen Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 16, 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: State Representative Mike Thompson testifying before the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee on his bill reducing the weekly extended unemployment benefits by 6% due to federal cutbacks; Dr. James Robertson, an obstetrician, testifying in favor of a bill allowing Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) to operate in Louisiana; an interview with Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Sherman Bernard on his support for a bill regulating HMOs like insurance companies; and an interview with State Representative Raymond Laborde, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, on the status of the state budget. Next, Karen Nachman reports on two bills under consideration before the House Agriculture Committee, a bill labeling seafood as an agricultural product and a bill allowing seafood, agricultural, and timber processing plants in Louisiana. Her report includes interviews with Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Bob Odom and State Representative Francis Thompson. Johnson then continues reporting on the day’s headlines, including an interview with Mona Davis, an aide to Governor Edwards, on the administration’s education priorities, as well as an interview with State Representative Edward D’Gerolamo on his bill allowing off-track betting on horse racing. Next, Johnson presents a rebroadcast of his report on the troubles facing the horse racing industry in Louisiana. Lastly, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with State Representative Allen Bradley on the campaign finance reform bills under consideration during the session.