Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1987-06-05

Duration: 00:25:12

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1987 | Fisheries | UNEMPLOYMENT

Contributors:

• Hinton, Rob Host
• Roedts, Lynda Reporter
• Baum, Butch Speaker
• Lowenthal, Margaret Speaker
• Brown, Jim Speaker
• Sittig, Dale Speaker
• Budd, Virginia Interviewee
• Ullo, Chris Speaker
• Thompson, Francis Speaker
• Truelove, Henry Speaker
• Hotoph, Steven Speaker
• Mialjevich, Tee John Speaker
• Waguespack, Gerry Speaker
• Bagert, Ben Speaker
• Nicholson, Elwyn Speaker
• Barham, Charles Speaker
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Cosse, Clark Speaker
• Doucet, Eddie Speaker
• Steimel, Ed Speaker
• Bussie, Victor Speaker
• Brown, Jim Speaker
• Gephardt, Richard Speaker

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 5, 1987, features Rob Hinton and Lynda Roedts reporting on the seventh week of the 1987 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Hinton first reports on the death of gubernatorial candidate Butch Baum at age 49 in a plane crash in Oklahoma. Next, Roedts recaps the week’s activity at the session, including: State Representative Margaret Lowenthal and Dr. Jim Brown of McNeese State University testifying on a bill raising the starting pay for teachers to the national average; State Representative Dale Sittig questioning the lack of funding for the bill; an interview with Virginia Budd of the Louisiana Association of Educators; State Representatives Chris Ullo and Francis Thompson debating a bill reducing the ethanol subsidy; Henry Truelove of the Louisiana Coalition of Producers and Consumers, Steven Hotoph, commercial fisherman, Tee John Mialjevich, shrimper, Gerry Waguespack, marine dealer, and State Senator Ben Bagert testifying on a bill prohibiting the use of nets in Louisiana waters in order to protect the redfish population; State Senators Elwyn Nicholson and Charles Barham debating a bill legalizing a statewide lottery; Governor Edwin Edwards and Clark Cosse of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) testifying on a bill allowing self-insurance from the state for workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance; and State Representative Eddie Doucet testifying on a bill creating a new Louisiana license plate with the phrase “America’s Cuisine Capital.” Hinton then reports on Governor Edwin Edwards outlining his plan to deal with the unemployment compensation fund debt. It also includes the reaction of Ed Steimel of LABI. Next, Hinton conducts an in-studio interview with Victor Bussie of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, who discusses his support for the Governor’s plan. Lastly, Hinton reports on the week’s other headlines, including: Secretary of State Jim Brown, a gubernatorial candidate, speaking to a civic group in Baton Rouge; Congressman Richard Gephardt of Missouri, a Democratic presidential candidate, speaking at an event in Baton Rouge; and the state’s preparations for Pope John Paul II’s visit to New Orleans in September.