Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2015-06-19

Duration: 00:27:05

Subjects: Politics | Government | Louisiana. Legislature | Louisiana Legislative Session, 2015 | State legislators | STATE BUDGET | Taxes | Tax exemptions | Tax credits | Corporate tax | HIGHER EDUCATION | Health Care | MEDICAID | CIGARETTE TAXES | Education | Common Core State Standards Initiative | Medical marijuana

Contributors:

• Sanford, Shauna Host
• Connelly, Kelly Producer
• Carter, Steve Interviewee
• Montoucet, Jack Interviewee
• Tarver, Greg Interviewee
• Broadwater, Chris Interviewee
• St. Germain, Karen Interviewee
• Kleckley, Chuck Interviewee
• Smith, Pat Interviewee
• James, Ted Interviewee
• Mills, Fred Interviewee
• Harris, Lance Interviewee
• Edwards, John Bel Interviewee
• Jindal, Bobby Speaker
• Nevers, Ben Interviewee
• Burns, Tim Interviewee
• Waguespack, Stephen Interviewee
• Jackson, Katrina Interviewee
• Stokes, Julie Interviewee
• Robideaux, Joel Interviewee
• LaFleur, Eric Speaker
• Donahue, Jack Speaker
• Fannin, Jim Interviewee
• Appel, Conrad Interviewee
• Wood, Sarah Speaker
• Nixon, Brenda Speaker
• Schales, Tammy Speaker
• Geymann, Brett Speaker
• Johnson, Mike Speaker
• Edmonds, Rick Speaker
• Perry, Stephen Speaker
• Ranatza, Mike Speaker

This special episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from June 19, 2015, features Shauna Sanford’s in-depth report on the major issues of the 2015 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. It focuses on the three major issues facing the state budget: the $1.6 billion budget shortfall; Governor Bobby Jindal’s pledge to Grover Norquist and Americans for Tax Reform to not raise taxes; and reducing the corporate tax credits and tax exemptions. This report also touches on other issues from the session, including: the controversy surrounding the Student Adjustment for a Valuable Education, or SAVE tax credit program for higher education; the ongoing debate over expanding Medicaid; the increase in the cigarette tax; the Common Core compromise; the defeat of State Representative Mike Johnson’s religious freedom bill protecting business owners who do not agree with same-sex marriage; Governor Jindal’s subsequent religious freedom executive order; and the passage of a bill allowing the dispensing of medical marijuana for certain illnesses. This report includes interviews with State Representatives Steve Carter, Jack Montoucet, Chris Broadwater, Karen St. Germain, Chuck Kleckley, Pat Smith, Ted James, Lance Harris, John Bel Edwards, Tim Burns, Katrina Jackson, Julie Stokes, Joel Robideaux, and Jim Fannin, as well as State Senators Greg Tarver, Fred Mills, Ben Nevers, and Conrad Appel.