Louisiana: The State We're In; 1030

A. Funding for the production of Louisiana the state wherein is provided in part by the Ziggler foundation of Jennings and Gulf states utilities helping Louisiana bridge the gap to our energy future. Business and labor reach an impasse on unemployment compensation and state lawmakers return to work after a week long break. I'm Robin Hilton Those stories and more straight ahead on the Louisiana the state we're in. Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of the easy end of the state we're on Also on tonight's

broadcast we have a report on the 10th Annual Mayor's Day sponsored by the Louisiana Municipal Association. But first a look at the negotiations between labor and business on unemployment compensation this morning Ed Steinle president of the wheezy an Association of Business and industry announced at the negotiations on unemployment compensation with the AFL CIO has reached an impasse. But it is not Mr. Bush's problem is not my problem. It is that problem and its economy is stalled because of their inaction on a few saying I will be if I don't do it. It's not stalled because of the reaction the packets that will be stalled However if the legislature doesn't do anything about it. And so it finally addresses itself to them and that they will also have to face this fall. Stern says that business and industry have serious questions about the proposed 1 percent tax on wages. It is likely as not. That the proposed tax would be

held up held as constitutional. I said well what does that mean reconnection sentence. We must acknowledge a substantial possibility is that the tax would be declared unconstitutional. He said it but I say likely as not to be held constitutional I mean that it is likely as not to be held unconstitutional. I said is that a 60 40 or 55 45 he said that's a 50 50. Simon then went on to state lobbies for her for dealing with the unemployment compensation matter. No tax on workers. We think that it is likely to be held unconstitutional even if it is not. We don't think can pass this legislature. It will be tied up. It would go on and be litigated and it will be too long in resolving a problem. Furthermore we don't believe that workers should be taxed. Many of whom have not contributed and don't contribute a lot of this problem.

To prop up benefits up by the national average about California about New Yark about all the states except 13. When we are willing to have that change something on the order of the Southern average or the National if you were President Viktor of U.S. had this reaction. If you tax the employer as an additional 1 percent and eliminate the 3 taxes he's talking about I can assure you now from everything that we have. That that phone will go back into a boring state in the early part of 1988. The matter is now in the hands of the legislature. OK it's now time to take a look back at what happened at the state capitol this week. Linda Rhodes is here to tell us that state lawmakers wasted little time getting down to business after this short break. Linda Robb education was still the main focus of many efforts this week and there were some other rather unusual bills discussed as well. Then he failed in

committee some were approved by either one house or the other. But we're still awaiting a piece of major legislation to be approved by both. The Senate passed a bill this week that may prove one of the most important decisions for education this session. If approved by the House the measure would require by constitution that the legislature fully fund education. That means one billion dollars to Louisiana 66 public school systems. It is a measure teachers sought since lawmakers cut the minimum Foundation program to balance the state budget. If approved any cuts would require a two thirds vote by the full legislature and another plus for quality education in Louisiana. The House passed a bill requiring high school juniors to pass a competency test before graduation. Designed to point out deficiencies the test would be put into effect in two years. Should students fail they would take summer classes and then take the exam again at the start

of their senior year. In other action the Education Committee passed unfavorably two bills affecting the board that set state education policy. The governor appoints three members to the board of elementary and secondary education. Representative Gary Forster's legislation tried to remove that influence especially since the education superintendents job will become an appointed position. But I would suggest we need to be fish or fowl. We need to have an elective board making decisions selecting the superintendent of education. Oh we like to have the elective government but to mix the two. In my opinion is not in the best interest of education. When that action failed representative Quenton destitute asked that Bessy be abolished altogether. He says policy making power should be given to the legislature since they control the purse strings as you well know with my colleagues our hands are tied as to what we can actually do or cannot do and can't do in the area of reform of education of

spending of programs of what can or can't be taught in classrooms. I think that if the blame and the responsibility for raising funds the rest here in the legislature that we ought to be the ultimate responsibility of the quality and type of education is taught here in Louisiana following on the heels of Forster's Bill these two were deferred. On another topic the number of deaths in Louisiana due to AIDS has reached nearly 400 yet health experts fear 20000 people have been exposed to stop the spread of the disease. And because he was outraged by a recent newspaper article one legislator asked lawmakers to make it a crime for an AIDS victim to knowingly expose someone else without telling them the charge second degree murder. Representative Kern in hand told the criminal justice committee this week about a man who had AIDS and was trying to spread it to others. And he was bitter about to having contracted it. And he expressed

that he was in this bitterness he was going to go ahead and continue having sexual relations with other individuals and as a result. Intentionally transferred to other people. However this law I'm afraid would be a powerful deterrent to participation in such a program since learning your test is positive. Could then put you at risk of being accused of murder for any sex activity that you have for the rest of your life. Well doctors say the legislation would seriously hamper their efforts. Prison officials say it would have almost no impact primarily because the law would be almost impossible to prosecute or place in your brain. And then go back and read it again years because of the problems with the legislation.

Lawmakers decided to postpone action intil they study it more. Meanwhile the Department of Health and Human Resources will have to make do with a budget that is 6 to 8 percent smaller next year. The governor's proposed budget for DHEA Charlies many needs unmet. And the House Appropriations Committee still must decide how to trim an additional 120 million dollars from the spending plan. None of these cuts are being made in education of the list. None of them so that eliminates a billion dollars to start out with. You take away some of the dedicated funds you're actually talking about a billion and a half that you could be looking at for cuts within the total budget. You know if you pay one percent of that you've got 15 million dollars across the board. But my head against that wall right there. The House did approve one measure that does not require funding but in fact limits it. Lawmakers voted to restrict campaign contributions and

tighten reporting requirements. Opponents say the problem is that the bill did not limit political action committee contributions where the largest donations come from. In other quick notes the Committee on Natural Resources this week approved a bill that would require the operators of hazardous waste facilities to be certified by a state board. The Senate approved a bill exempting food stamps from state sales taxes. Representative Robert Adley introduced a bill to set up a commission to reorganize state government. And on Thursday the House voted 100 to zero to make it legally unenforceable for people to contract surrogate mothers for pay. In Louisiana we always look at what's in the best interest of a child not in what's whether or not a contract is valid. I wish you'd support me on this this bill and tell the rest of the country that Louisiana stands for peace and not. Being in the business of selling children the believe surrogate parenting intact

but says that a contract for money is against public policy. And finally it took lawmakers two hours to kill a bill that would give local governments some measure of control at setting their own tax rates. Representative Chris Ulo took his bill before members of the House Ways and Means Committee asking that localities be allowed to increase or decrease the homestead exemption and the tax millage. What this legislation does is go for an attempt to give the local government the opportunity to control itself. Talk all the time the local government wants to be a party to taxing feels to be able to control its own destiny. This legislation will do that. Twice amended the bill was no longer pleasing to its sponsor and Ulo asked that action be postponed. I believe that we have a history here that. Wasn't the answer to all problems but I think it was heading in that direction and with the members the way they are

down the hill is meaningless. You know later said he has no intention of bringing the bill back he says now is apparently not the time lawmakers are ready for reform. Looking ahead to next week the House is expected to make a decision whether to constitutionally require full funding for education. This could be the first major legislation to come from the session since the Senate has already approved a similar bill. Lawmakers will probably take it up on either Monday or Tuesday. Rob. Thanks Linda. OK it's time now to take a look at some other legislative notes. The House approved a bill this week requiring high school students to pass a standard statewide test before allowing them to graduate. Now according to reports representative now is long overdue on that measure the so-called graduation test will give meaning and substance to the awarding and receiving of a diploma. The bill now goes to the Senate. The house table a sex education bill authored by another Shreveport lawmaker representative Alphonse Jackson's bill would have allowed local school systems to accept federal

funds for authorized sex education instruction with school board approval. The House passed and sent to the Senate a bill that would deny professional licenses to those people who fail to pay their student loans. According to Representative Jimmy long of NAC officially sponsor of the bill the law would apply to teachers sort of high public accountants medical doctors and other professionals but not to bricklayers and other tradesmen. Critics say the bill has no safeguards to assure fair administration of the law. The House Education Committee approved a bill that would require students to pass a course in black history before receiving a high school diploma starting with the class of 1989. BLOCK lawmakers arguing that ignorance about black culture is a major cause of racism. But opponents say requiring students to study a single ethnic group would only continue racial tensions. And the Senate Education Committee passed a bill that says children cannot drop out of school until age 18 unless they have parental consent and ideation to raising the compulsory attendance age from 16 to 18.

The bill also calls for each school to develop and implement a system to give written notification to parents and students have been excessively absent from school. This week in Baton Rouge more than 150 mayors and municipal officials from throughout the state gathered for the Louisiana Municipal Association 10th annual Mayor's Day. The mayor say that their governments endured severe monetary cuts in 1086 they say they intend to see that the same thing doesn't happen this year. New Orleans Mayor Sidney Barthelemy a former legislator and self. We are getting less and less financial assistance from state government and national government basically because we appear to be the least powerful in determining elections. We all know that whenever there's a crunch in the budget and there is talk of cuts they began to look at us in a little bit assistance that we get from them. And then

we get cut we get cut because they figure that we are not going to make a decision in the next upcoming election to support or not support someone based upon the way the state treats local government. But sodomy says it is important for legislators to understand that the politics of local government is tied to what state lawmakers do in the legislature. He also says that now is the time for Louisiana mayors to carefully assess their legislators. It's important for them also to understand that when we make decisions of who we're going to support in the upcoming elections that we're going to use this legislative session as a measuring stick to make some decisions. We should let our legislators know and the gubernatorial candidates know. That. We like them as good people. Yes but our endorsement is going

to depend upon how they respond to our needs in the legislature and in the governor's mansion. I think that is extremely important for us if we're going to have the kind of impact that we must have in the future. The mayor is also heard from several legislators who talked about legislation affecting local municipalities. One of the things of interest is a particular piece of legislation dealing with a indemnification for our payment of a bond for cost. When a municipality or a public body or public official within a public body is sued it would require the person who is bringing the suit against that municipality to post a bond for costs to cover attorney's fees. The idea behind it the concept is basically this since you are a public body you do have to expend your own fees. Should you be successful in winning the in defending the lawsuit and win. The guy who brings the suit if he's capable of paying ought to pay the attorney's fees.

It's a way of hopefully in these but tight budget situations allowing for a little more equity in the amount of lawsuits filed against public bodies in times that were we in state government from the time that I've been here 72 to present that we've had plenty of money in Baton Rouge that you could come down and we could fund a lot of things for you. We see that on a downturn to date and course it causes financial repercussions on the local level. So the areas where we have mandated to use certain things those things you need to bring to our attention and especially in the next six months between now and October. Talk to the people that are running for governor talk to the people that are running for representative in Senate to explain your problems to them and tell them what we in Baton Rouge have created for you on a local level. And I asked for the help in removing those things. Governor Edwards made some comments this week were it appeared that he was putting some distance between himself and the proposed teacher pay raise plan. It was last week that Governor Edwards announced a pay raise plan for teachers a plan that

calls for the elimination of a once in sales tax exemption but it has the support of both teach organizations and most legislators who have a genuine concern about education. And it also has my support and I'm going to say that I hope that everyone legislators and others in and out of the education community who have been telling us for months about how they support public education will join with us in helping to happen at this compromise far reaching and I think a very progressive piece of legislation which should do in my judgment wonders for the morale of teachers a great deal of help for the public education system generally. And I think also the public will be pleased with the accountability features of the legislation. But this week before a Citigroup in Baton Rouge the governor said that the sales tax plan for teacher pay raises is headed for failure. The governor said and I quote that is not my

plan. It is a plan that I embraced when it was brought to me. Unfortunately it's not going to pass. Those comments prompted this reaction from Fred Skelton president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers are extremely disappointed that the governor has come to that conclusion because we do not have that conclusion. We have spoken with legislators we have know that it is going to be a difficult bill to pass but we believe that it is the kind of bill it should be heard and should be passed by this legislature. We haven't given hope we're going to continue to work for passage of that legislation because we have a desperate problem in this state. We need to attract and we need to keep good teachers in the classrooms of the state. And unless we begin to address the problem of pay where teachers are now paid forty seventh in the country we're not going to be able to attract them and we're not going to be able to keep them unskilled and told us how his teacher group will be working to assure passage of the proposed pay raise plan or meeting with various of the individual legislators trying to impress upon them the need to address this problem that if we're going to get out of the economic. Depression really is what we're in

in this state we're going to need to attract industry to come to Louisiana. Industry is going to come to Louisiana if they believe that people here are capable of operating the machines and the computers and they. There are mechanisms of the industry. We need a well-educated populace to do that and that means that we have to have good schools. Fred Skelton president of the ways and a federation of teachers at the same gathering in Baton Rouge where he made comments about the proposed teacher pay raise plan. Edwards also did a bit of campaigning once again pushing his lottery casino proposals. A lottery is a voluntary way of raising money for state government. For what purposes to education and healthcare needs of senior citizens both areas are willfully underfunded. My suggestion is that it's something that people can do on a voluntary basis and far better way to do that since we need the money than to impose additional taxes on people. And the governor said casino gambling is a voluntary matter as well. The man the Council of New Orleans won't take the senior most of the people by

polls who want to concede all but three or four of the legislators from the area. I would support the licensing of the casino. It would bring 3 to 10 million tourists a year into the city stimulating the economy by three to four billion dollars a year generating 75 million dollars a year in income for the city of New Orleans without taxes and two hundred fifty million dollars a year in license fees and taxes for the state of Louisiana without you having to pay taxes. One name often mentioned as a candidate for secretary of state is Mayor Pat screen of Baton Rouge. Well this week screening a former aide Mary Alice Pierson were indicted on one count each of malfeasance in office. The indictment charges that Pearson and screen committed malfeasance between January 1st 1904 and December 30 for that same year. The indictment says in that time they did intentionally perform their duties under Chapter 8 Section 20 of the East Baton Rouge plan of government in an unlawful manner. After the indictment was turnt was returned screen had this reaction.

Definition of the charge is that only an intentionally performed our duties on the job. Not according with is very difficult for me to fathom how you can intentionally perform your duties that in accordance with the law. When you ask the lawyers when you ask that there should charity was I designated legal adviser. What is the proper thing to do before you do it and then take the advice. This afternoon Attorney General William Gus decided not to prosecute screen and his former aide. A jury was seated this weekend testimony has begun in the public payroll fraud case against education superintendent Tom Clawson and a former aide. One of the state's chief witnesses Clifford Bowden Jr. says he did no work for the four paychecks he received from the Department of Education. Babbitt was quizzed about his association with Closs and for saying up and about his past criminal activity. Now that Gary Hart has withdrawn from the presidential race among Democrats the Reverend Jesse Jackson gained some ground. Yesterday he addressed a joint session of the Louisiana Legislature shaking hands as he went and the rope was

there. Jesse Jackson took the stage during his 1984 bid for the presidency. And yesterday he told Louisiana legislators what they most want to hear not the home heating oil price of crude oil. Take the uncertainty out of the market covers domestic production here in the oil producing states. Jackson says the country is dangerously close to the oil import levels just before the embargo that nearly crippled the United States. He says the president lacks an overall energy policy. And the void is threatening national security. Beyond the taxes we need a long term energy policy which reflects the changing international situation. That means updating taxing and licensing policy to provide appropriate fiscal incentives

to stimulate the Messe the investment and increase domestic oil production. What I think Jackson says this country must invest in itself. He needs people through education saying we can't afford the president's budget cuts at the expense of education. Jackson says the results are already showing. In 1976 black students made up nine point four percent of the college population. Eight years later in 1984 that number had gone down to eight point eight percent. Today that number continues to the climb. We must speak out on behalf of justice. We must work diligently for peace. We must move beyond the battle round and raise conscious behavior for the common ground of economic progress. Jackson says it's a disgrace the nation has no national housing policy that we bail out Chrysler Europe and Japan.

But American farmers are going under that teenagers are distraught with drugs and despair. Jackson says too many young people are losing hope. They see no future for themselves no chance for an education or a job. Jackson says it's time to fight but not against ourselves if we must fight fight together at a plant gate closed on workers without notice. If we must fight fight together our formal action for mercy and parenting and we must fight. Fight at the drilling site and increase our images of patients in and out jobs. Jackson says faith in a greater power is the key to the future. We must achieve peace but we can't break the law we must follow the formula. If my people who are called by my name. Well I'm a limb sail and pray

and seek my face and turn. They will hear from heaven and I will heal their land and we'll have peace in the valley together in our time. Thank you very much. Well that's it for this week. Thanks for watching. Be sure to join us again next week for another edition of Louisiana. Stick around. Have a good weekend. Funding for the production of Louisiana the state wherein is provided in part by the

Ziggler foundation of Jennings and Gulf states utilities helping Louisiana bridge the gap to our energy future. Of the state wherein is provided in part by the Ziggler foundation of Jennings and Gulf states utilities helping Louisiana bridge the gap to our energy future.