Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1987-05-22

Duration: 00:24:07

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1987 | HIGHER EDUCATION | ETHANOL | Liability (Law)

Contributors:

• Hinton, Rob Host
• Roedts, Lynda Reporter
• Bagert, Ben Speaker
• Reilly, Kevin, Sr. Speaker
• Patti, Frank Speaker
• Alario, John Speaker
• Hebert, Robert Speaker
• Vines, Dwight Speaker
• Authement, Ray Speaker
• Wharton, James Speaker
• Jumonville, J.E. Speaker
• Hudson, Tommy Speaker
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Charton, Steve Speaker
• Callegan, Nita Speaker
• Dewitt, Charles Speaker
• Baer, Mike Speaker
• Saunders, John Speaker
• Chabert, Leonard Speaker
• Gomez, Ron Speaker
• Anderson, Adrienne Speaker
• Spier, Jerry Interviewee
• McCrery, Jim Interviewee
• Graves, Robert Speaker
• Tauzin, Billy Speaker
• Clausen, Tom Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from May 22, 1987, features Rob Hinton and Lynda Roedts reporting on the fifth week of the 1987 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Roedts first recaps the week’s activity at the session, including: State Senator Ben Bagert debating a bill requiring the state’s retirement systems to become actuarially sound; State Representative Kevin Reilly discussing the need for more higher education funding; State Representative Frank Patti questioning if the money from the ethanol subsidy program could be used to fund other programs; Speaker of the House John Alario testifying on a constitutional amendment creating a Revenue Estimating Conference; Dr. Robert Hebert of McNeese State University, Dr. Dwight Vines of Northeast Louisiana University, Dr. Ray Authement of the University of Southwest Louisiana, Dr. James Wharton of LSU, State Senator J.E. Jumonville, State Senator Tommy Hudson, and Governor Edwin Edwards testifying on a bill granting the authority to the Board of Trustees to approve name changes for colleges and universities; Steve Charton, small business lobbyist, and Nita Callegan of the Gasoline Retailers Association testifying on an amendment removing the requirement to label ethanol at the gas pump; State Representative Charles DeWitt commenting on the amendment; and Senate Secretary Mike Baer, State Senator John Saunders, and State Senator Leonard Chabert debating Saunders’ bill aimed at limiting campaign contributions. Next, Rob Hinton reports on the House Civil Law Committee approving a package of lawsuit reform bills aimed at changing the state’s liability laws. It includes testimony by State Representative Ron Gomez and Adrienne Anderson of the National Campaign Against Toxic Hazards, as well as an interview with Jerry Spier of the Sierra Club. Hinton then conducts an in-studio interview with Jim McCrery, the chairman of the Liability Task Force, who discusses the bills in the lawsuit reform package. Lastly, Hinton reports on the week’s headlines, including: Secretary Robert Graves of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) discussing the Federal Highway Administration’s threat to stop sending federal highway funds to Louisiana; Congressman Billy Tauzin, a candidate for governor, speaking to the Louisiana Natural Gas Fair; and an interview with Superintendent of Education Tom Clausen following his acquittal on public payroll fraud charges.