Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1991-06-07

Duration: 00:27:52

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1991 | STATE BUDGET | Environment | HIGHER EDUCATION | Air pollution

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Nachman, Karen Reporter
• Duhe, Jeff Reporter
• Bares, Allen Speaker
• Cross, Mike Speaker
• Pattie, Frank Interviewee
• Nunez, Sammy Interviewee
• Tarver, Greg Interviewee
• Brinkhaus, Armand Interviewee
• Rombach, John Speaker
• Thompson, Steve Speaker
• Jumonville, J.E. Speaker
• Stine, Dennis Speaker
• Rayburn, B.B. "Sixty" Interviewee
• Cosper, Sammie Interviewee
• Orr, Virgil Interviewee
• Kennedy, John Interviewee
• Fields, Cleo Interviewee
• Wade, Donald Interviewee
• Holden, Kip Interviewee
• Crain, Willie Interviewee
• St. Raymond, James Interviewee
• Duke, David Interviewee
• Dastugue, Quentin Interviewee
• Bruneau, Peppi Interviewee
• Copelin, Sherman Interviewee
• Haik, Ted Interviewee
• Pedler, Shirley Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 7, 1991, features Robert Collins, Karen Nachman, and Jeff Duhe reporting on the eighth week of the 1991 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Collins first reports on the week’s headlines. These stories include: the Senate passing an abortion bill, including highlights of the debate with State Senators Allen Bares and Mike Cross; an interview with State Representative Frank Pattie on the concerns about the possible closure of oyster beds; and the latest poll results for the 1991 gubernatorial election. Nachman then reports on the Senate’s concerns about the state budget passed by the House, which used the entire state surplus to balance the budget. She reports that the Senate passed a one-cent sales tax for previously exempt items to balance the budget. Her report includes interviews with: Senate President Sammy Nunez; State Senator Greg Tarver; State Senator Armand Brinkhaus; and State Senator B.B. “Sixty” Rayburn. Her report also includes highlights of the Senate Finance Committee hearing, including comments by: John Rombach of the Legislative Fiscal Office; State Senator Steve Thompson; State Senator J.E. Jumonville; and Commissioner of Administration Dennis Stine. Next, Duhe reports on the House passing a constitutional amendment granting more power to the Board of Regents for the overall management of the state’s higher education system. He interviews: Dr. Sammie Cosper of the Board of Regents; State Representative Virgil Orr; John Kennedy, Governor’s counsel; State Senator Cleo Fields; and Donald Wade of the Southern University Alumni Association. Nachman then interviews State Representative Kip Holden and State Senator Willie Crain. They discuss Crain’s bill lowering the state’s air emissions standards. Lastly, Duhe reports on the session’s other headlines, including: an interview with State Representative James St. Raymond on his bill exempting condos and co-op housing from property taxes up to the homestead exemption; an interview with State Representative David Duke on his affirmative action bill; an interview with State Representative Quentin Dastugue on a bill allowing the sale of $15 million in bonds to build a minor league baseball stadium in Jefferson Parish; an interview with State Representative Peppi Bruneau on his bill requiring jailed drug offenders to take a drug test before posting bond; an interview with State Representative Sherman Copelin on his bill reallocating tobacco taxes to local governments; an interview with State Senator Cleo Fields on his bill withholding permits for new incinerators until the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) creates new rules; an interview with State Senator Armand Brinkhaus on his bill repealing regulations on produced water; and interviews with State Representative Ted Haik and Shirley Pedler of the ACLU on Haik’s bill outlawing the sale of obscene music records to minors.