Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1988-07-8

Duration: 00:27:44

Subjects: Government | SALES TAX | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1988 | Politics

Contributors:

• Lormand, Ken Host
• Sockman, Roger Reporter
• Rayburn, B.B. "Sixty" Speaker
• Campbell, Foster Speaker
• Kelly, Don Speaker
• Jefferson, William Speaker
• Roemer, Buddy Speaker
• Drennen, Mark Interviewee
• Dimos, Jimmy Interviewee
• Fields, Cleo Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from July 8, 1988, features Ken Lormand and Roger Sockman reporting on the twelfth week of the 1988 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Sockman first reports on the passage of a compromise version of Governor Buddy Roemer’s plan to repeal two cents of the state sales tax exemption on food, drugs, and utilities for a one-year period in order to fund his bridge financing plan for local governments. His report includes highlights of the debate on the Senate floor, including State Senators B.B. “Sixty” Rayburn, Foster Campbell, Don Kelly, and William Jefferson. Next, Lormand presents highlights of Governor Buddy Roemer presenting his proposed budget cuts to the Senate Finance Committee. Lastly, Lormand interviews Mark Drennen of the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR), Speaker of the House Jimmy Dimos, and State Senator Cleo Fields. They discuss: their views of the session; the sales tax compromise; education reform; campaign finance reform; improving the state’s image around the country; their views on the proposal to consolidate the state’s four higher education boards; and the major issues of the upcoming special session.