Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1989-06-16

Duration: 00:27:08

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1989 | STATE BUDGET | SALES TAX | Welfare | Air pollution

Contributors:

• Zewe, Charles Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Roemer, Buddy Speaker
• Bagneris, Dennis Interviewee
• Ward, Ken Interviewee
• Kelly, Don Speaker
• Hainkel, John Speaker
• Rayburn, B.B. "Sixty" Interviewee
• Roemer, Buddy Interviewee
• Mills, P.J. Interviewee
• Ater, Al Interviewee
• Holden, Kip Interviewee
• Von Bodungen, Gus Interviewee
• Dastugue, Quentin Interviewee
• Lauricella, Hank Interviewee
• Wagoner, Neil Interviewee
• Jetson, Raymond Interviewee
• Thornton, Emily Interviewee
• Duke, David Interviewee
• Jones, Charles D. Interviewee
• Forster, Garey Interviewee
• Nelson, May Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 16, 1989, features Charles Zewe and Karen Nachman reporting on the ninth week of the 1989 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Zewe first reports on the week’s headlines, including: Governor Buddy Roemer discussing his timeline for calling a special session; interviews with State Senator Dennis Bagneris and Ken Ward of the Louisiana Civic and Moral Association on a bill legalizing gambling on boats out of New Orleans; and State Senators Don Kelly and John Hainkel debating a bill limiting workers’ compensation benefits. Next, Zewe reports on the latest on the state budget, including the Senate passing a three cent sales tax and a group of legislators asking the Louisiana Supreme Court to decide if the Legislature can repeal sales tax exemptions without going into a special session. He interviews: State Senator B.B. “Sixty” Rayburn; Governor Buddy Roemer; P.J. Mills, the Governor’s chief of staff; and State Representative Al Ater. Nachman then reports on the Senate approving a bill requiring the reduction by one half of toxic air emissions by 1994. Her report includes interviews with State Representative Kip Holden and Gus Von Bodungen of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Next, Zewe reports on the Senate passing a constitutional amendment creating a highway and transportation trust fund. He interviews State Representative Quentin Dastugue, State Senator Hank Lauricella and Secretary Neil Wagoner of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Nachman then reports on a welfare reform bill providing for job training for people with dependent children as required by federal law. Her report includes interviews with: State Representative Raymond Jetson; Emily Thornton of the Office of Eligibility Determination; State Representative David Duke; State Representative Charles D. Jones; and State Representative Garey Forster. Lastly, Zewe conducts an in-studio interview with Secretary May Nelson of the Louisiana Department of Social Services and State Representative Raymond Jetson. They discuss the goals of the welfare reform bill.