Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

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

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1992-06-12

Duration: 00:27:05

Subjects: CASINOS | Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 1992 | Gambling

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Duhe, Jeff Reporter
• Morial, Marc Interviewee
• Dimos, Jimmy Speaker
• Thompson, Francis Speaker
• Landrieu, Mary Interviewee
• Robine, Louis Speaker
• Juneau, Dan Interviewee
• Bussie, Victor Interviewee
• Fields, Cleo Interviewee
• Adley, Robert Speaker
• Dixon, Irma Speaker
• Robinson, Florence Interviewee
• Cain, James David Interviewee
• Haik, Ted Interviewee
• Landrieu, Mitch Interviewee
• Alario, John Interviewee
• Edwards, Edwin Speaker
• Dastugue, Quentin Interviewee
• Jordan, Max Speaker
• Hollis, Ken Interviewee
• Morial, Marc Speaker
• Hainkel, John Speaker
• Chabert, Marty Speaker
• Maginnis, John Interviewee
• Wardlaw, Jack Interviewee

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 12, 1992, features Robert Collins and Jeff Duhe reporting on the eleventh week of the 1992 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. Duhe first reports on the latest action at the State Capitol, including: an interview with State Senator Marc Morial on his bill offering incentives to new teachers to work in disadvantaged schools; State Representative Jimmy Dimos questioning State Representative Francis Thompson on a bill related to the investment options for the education trust fund; an interview with State Treasurer Mary Landrieu on the bill; Louis Robine, a labor attorney, discussing the fair share, or agency shop, bill; interviews with Dan Juneau of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) and Victor Bussie of the Louisiana AFL-CIO on the bill; an interview with State Cleo Fields on the lack of a vote on his bill allowing collective bargaining for teachers; State Representative Irma Dixon questioning State Representative Robert Adley on his bill suspending the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) fines on radioactivity; an interview with Florence Robinson, an environmental activist, on a bill requiring officials at public hearings on pollution to swear-in; an interview with State Senator James David Cain on his bill asking Congress not to pass the free trade agreement with Mexico; and an interview with State Representative Ted Haik on his bill forbidding the sale of music with explicit lyrics to minors. Next, Duhe reports on the House and Senate passing the bill allowing for one casino in New Orleans. His report touches on the controversy surrounding vote switching and Speaker of the House John Alario closing the voting machines prior to announcing that he was about to do so during the vote. Duhe’s report includes: interviews with State Representatives Mitch Landrieu, John Alario, and Quentin Dastugue; highlights from a press conference with Governor Edwin Edwards; State Senator Max Jordan discussing the bill during a Senate committee hearing; an interview with State Senator Ken Hollis on the Senate floor; and State Senators Marc Morial, John Hainkel, and Marty Chabert debating the bill. Lastly, Collins conducts an in-studio with John Maginnis of the Louisiana Political Review and Jack Wardlaw of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. They discuss: the controversial casino vote; the tension in the Legislature; and the status of the proposed constitutional convention.