Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-05-23

Duration: 00:25:55

Subjects: Government | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Prevailing wage | Gambling | UNEMPLOYMENT | Politics | Louisiana. Legislature

Contributors:

• Johnson, Ken Host
• Myers, Laura Reporter
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Jackson, Alphonse Interviewee
• Anderson, Vicki Interviewee
• Landrieu, Mary Interviewee
• Bajoie, Diana Interviewee
• Baker, Richard Interviewee
• Cusimano, Charles Interviewee
• D'Gerolamo, Eddie Interviewee
• Baker, Richard Speaker
• Bajoie, Diana Speaker
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Steimel, Ed Interviewee
• Thompson, Mike Interviewee
• Thompson, Francis Interviewee
• Sour, Art Interviewee
• Copelin, Sherman Interviewee
• Jetson, Raymond Interviewee
• Ripoli, Bud Speaker
• Bradley, Allen Interviewee
• Odom, Bob Interviewee
• Gee, Terry Speaker
• Bourg, John Speaker
• Bussie, Victor Interviewee
• Crane, Carl Speaker
• Travis, John Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 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 Representative Alphonse Jackson on a bill regulating health care facilities that provide extended care for nursing home Medicaid patients; an interview with Vicki Anderson of the Louisiana Dental Hygienists’ Association on their support of a bill requiring continuing education for dental hygienists; and an interview with State Representative Mary Landrieu on U.S. News and World Report selecting her as a politician to watch. Next, Laura Myers reports on the House of Representatives defeating Governor Edwin Edwards’ gambling compromise bill, which would have allowed the operation of three casinos in New Orleans. Her report includes interviews with State Representatives Diana Bajoie, Richard Baker, Charles Cusimano and Eddie D’Gerolamo, Speaker of the House John Alario, and Ed Steimel of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI). It also includes highlights of State Representatives Bajoie and Baker debating the bill on the House floor. Karen Nachman then reports on state legislators’ reactions to the defeat of the bill. She interviews State Representatives Mike Thompson, Francis Thompson, Art Sour, Sherman Copelin, and Raymond Jetson. Next, Johnson continues reporting on the day’s headlines. These stories include: State Representative Bud Ripoli criticizing the defeat of the gambling compromise bill on the House floor; an interview with State Representative Allen Bradley on the status of his bill limiting cash campaign contributions; an interview with State Representative Francis Thompson on his bill transferring the regulation of crawfish ponds and catfish ponds from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to the Department of Agriculture; and an interview with Commissioner of Agriculture Bob Odom on the impact of weather conditions on crops and his opposition to the proposed repeal of the gasohol tax. Myers then reports on the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee defeating a bill changing the threshold for the prevailing wage law from $25,000 to $2 million. Her report includes highlights of the testimony by State Representative Terry Gee and John Bourg of the AFL-CIO. Next, Johnson conducts an in-studio interview with Victor Bussie, the president of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, who discusses the state’s high unemployment rate. Lastly, Johnson reports on the defeat of a bill creating a higher education trust fund, including highlights of State Representatives Carl Crane and John Travis debating the bill on the House floor.