Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1986-06-24

Duration: 00:25:47

Subjects: Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1986 | Politics | Government | STATE BUDGET | HIGHER EDUCATION | Louisiana State University System

Contributors:

• Myers, Laura Host
• Nachman, Karen Host
• Perlman, Ralph Interviewee
• Alexander, Stephanie Interviewee
• Leach, Buddy Interviewee
• Nicholson, Elwyn Speaker
• Jeffress, William Speaker
• Newman, Cliff Speaker
• Hebert, Murray Speaker
• Haik, Ted Speaker
• Rayburn, B.B. "Sixty" Interviewee
• Nunez, Sammy Interviewee
• Cross, Mike Interviewee
• Adley, Robert Interviewee
• Caldwell, Buddy Speaker
• Singleton, James Speaker
• Miller, Wendall Speaker
• Thomas, Graves Speaker
• Skelton, Fred Interviewee
• Copping, Allen Interviewee
• Forster, Garey Speaker
• Bradley, Allen Speaker
• Dewitt, Charles Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 24, 1986, features Laura Myers and Karen Nachman hosting a daily legislative report on the 1986 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. They first report on the day’s headlines. These stories include: an interview with Ralph Perlman, the executive budget officer, on the passage of a state budget with over $600 million in cuts; an interview with Commissioner of Administration Stephanie Alexander on how the cuts will impact citizens’ lives; an interview with State Representative Buddy Leach on the possible lay-off of 10,000 state employees in July and the House Ways and Means Committee moving three revenue generating bills to the House floor; State Senator William Jefferson questioning State Senator Elwyn Nicholson on his bill repealing the constitutional provisions that make a statewide lottery illegal; State Senator Cliff Newman, State Representative Murray Hebert, and State Representative Ted Haik testifying on a bill allowing parimutuel betting on greyhound dog racing at horse racing tracks; interviews with State Senator B.B. “Sixty” Rayburn, Senate President Sammy Nunez, and State Senator Mike Cross on the possibility of the Senate passing any revenue enhancements approved by the House; an interview with State Representative Robert Adley on his bill placing severance taxes in a trust fund with the interest earned being placed in the state general fund when oil prices rise above $22 a barrel; District Attorney Buddy Caldwell, State Representative James Singleton, and District Attorney Wendall Miller testifying on a bill allowing attorneys to be present during grand jury hearings; State Senator William Jefferson questioning defense attorney Graves Thomas on the bill; and an interview with Fred Skelton of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers (LFT) on teachers being upset about the proposed budget cuts to K-12 education. Next, Myers conducts an in-studio interview with Dr. Allen Copping, the president of the Louisiana State University (LSU) System. He discusses: the brain drain of professors due to budget cuts; the importance of having a strong educational system in order to recruit new professors; and the impact of the proposed budget cuts to higher education. Lastly, Myers and Nachman continue reporting on the day’s headlines. These stories include State Representative Buddy Leach presenting a bill that strips one cent from the four cent tax exemption on food, drugs, utilities, and gasoline, as well as State Representatives Garey Forster, Allen Bradley, and Charles Dewitt debating the bill.