Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1987-05-15

Duration: 00:25:40

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1987 | UNEMPLOYMENT | Louisiana. State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education | Local governments | Jackson, Jesse, 1941-

Contributors:

• Hinton, Rob Host
• Roedts, Lynda Reporter
• Steimel, Ed Speaker
• Bussie, Victor Speaker
• Forster, Garey Speaker
• Dastugue, Quentin Speaker
• Hand, Kernan "Skip" Speaker
• Mathison, Joyce Speaker
• Jackson, Carl Speaker
• Laborde, Raymond Interviewee
• Morrell, Arthur Speaker
• Chehardy, Lawrence Speaker
• Ullo, Chris Speaker
• Barthelemy, Sidney Speaker
• Downer, Hunt Speaker
• Ensminger, John C. Speaker
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Skelton, Fred Interviewee
• Screen, Pat Interviewee
• Jackson, Jesse Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 15, 1987, features Rob Hinton and Lynda Roedts reporting on the fourth week of the 1987 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Hinton first reports on business and labor reaching an impasse on their negotiations on a wage tax plan to fund unemployment compensation benefits. It includes comments by Ed Steimel of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) and Victor Bussie of the Louisiana AFL-CIO. Next, Roedts recaps the week’s activity at the session, including: State Representative Garey Forster testifying on his bill removing the Governor’s authority to appoint three members to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); State Representative Quentin Dastugue testifying on his bill abolishing the BESE Board; State Representative Kernan “Skip” Hand, Dr. Joyce Mathison, assistant state epidemiologist, and Carl Jackson of the Commission on Law Enforcement testifying on Hand’s bill making it illegal for a person with AIDS to expose someone to the disease without their knowledge; an interview with State Representative Raymond Laborde on proposed budget cuts; State Representative Arthur Morrell presenting his bill making it legally unenforceable for people to contract with surrogate mothers for pay; and Jefferson Parish Assessor Lawrence Chehardy and State Representative Chris Ullo testifying on a bill allowing local governments to increase or decrease the homestead exemption and tax millages. Hinton then reports on the 10th Annual Mayor’s Day sponsored by the Louisiana Municipal Association. It includes comments by New Orleans Mayor Sidney Barthelemy, State Representative Hunt Downer, and State Representative John C. Ensminger. Hinton then reports on the week’s other headlines, including: an interview with Fred Skelton of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers responding to Governor Edwin Edwards’ comments that the teacher pay raise plan will not pass; Governor Edwards discussing his proposals to legalize a state lottery and casino gambling; and an interview with Baton Rouge Mayor Pat Screen on his indictment on one count of malfeasance in office. Lastly, Roedts reports on Reverend Jesse Jackson’s address to a joint session of the Legislature.