For Governor Edwin Edwards,
putting 59000 people
who use community mental health
centers on
the street is intolerable.
And funding for the Department
of Environmental Quality
should come from raising fees.
But if it doesn't,
that department may
be taking a back seat.
Tonight, the governor
discusses the budget.
And also tonight,
the issue of drunk driving.
More than 25000 people
die each year in alcohol
related accidents.
And Louisiana
has one of the worst
records in the country
today at the Capitol.
Some lawmakers
looked at the issue.
Good evening.
Thanks for joining us.
I'm Laura Myers.
And I'm Karen Nachman.
Welcome to Tuesday's
legislative report.
Our top stories tonight,
Governor Edwards discusses
budget cuts facing the House.
He says those cuts
include closing 40
for National Guard armories
and losing more than
three million dollars
of federal funding
for state parks .
The federal government
has ordered a 90 percent
cleanup of asbestos.
That's to prevent
deaths and accidents.
Tonight, a related measure
dealing with asbestos
cleanup passes the House floor
and crime victims
would have to be notified
if a convicted criminal
is about to be pardoned.
That bill gets
committee approval.
And in our headlines tonight,
the Louisiana House
has gone on record
as favoring an interstate
sporting conference
so that small universities
in Louisiana can
play each other.
Also today, a committee
approved a bill that
increases the penalty
for the crime of indecent
behavior with juveniles.
And also a state education
official says the U.S.
attorney's office
has demanded
copies of all records
showing how the state spent
federal money for
handicapped students.
Governor Edwards held
a second breakfast
meeting today to discuss
the proposed budget cuts
with House members.
Those House members
probably won't begin
debating the budget bill
until early next week.
The governor is predicting
a growing move now toward
passing a state lottery.
He says the proposed cuts
could force the closing
of the Superdome.
And he predicts casino
gambling will be legalized
sometime during his lifetime.
This morning, lawmakers
packed a breakfast room
at the governor's mansion.
Some of them told the governor
it's time for him to step in
and help rescue programs
and entire departments
that have been cut
from the state's budget.
Those cuts possibly
could go into effect
on July 1st.
The governor told lawmakers
instead of ending this session
before that date,
he wants them to work
until a compromise budget
plan is finished.
The governor did
share with this group
the reactions from yesterday,
which he shared
very accurately.
And then he did take.
If you want to call
the straw poll
without any one sided card
as to their preferences
on attempting to either
concur in the bill as it is,
or raise
some additional revenues
or raise
some additional revenues
and let the people of the state
decide on the lottery
in September.
We're looking at
removing the sales
tax exemptions to some of those
to try to restore
some of the most serious cuts
and then implementing a lottery
so that we can have some money
later on in the year.
We have to avoid off
additional cuts at
the price of oil
continues to fall.
So that 70 million
that the lottery
will raise even up to
of for next year
will go ahead with use.
Governor Edwards
also today repeated predictions
of how state budget cuts
will affect state services.
Among those
additional bank failures,
especially banks
with agricultural loans.
He says the Saints could end up
moving out of state
and nearly 60 thousand
mental health patients
could be turned out of clinics
and out of treatment
and put on the streets
where things are going.
At one point during
his news conference,
Governor Edwards was flanked
by former characters
of the 1984 World's Fair.
They're now ambassadors
of goodwill,
traveling the country
to spread good news
about Louisiana.
But as the governor
had said earlier,
nearly 600 million
dollars in budget cuts
brings a little good news
to those who live in state.
And the cuts
bring little good
news to the state's
largest tourist attraction.
The city of New Orleans,
New Orleans, would be impacted
very seriously by the cuts.
The exhibition hall
is some three million
dollars in debt,
and apparently by January
the 1st has to raise the money.
Otherwise it will close.
The dome is in jeopardy.
The cabildo is in jeopardy.
The museum is in jeopardy.
The regional transportation
system is in jeopardy.
Charity Hospital
and satellite functions
are going to be
seriously impacted,
says the governor,
as realization of the
severity of the cuts sinks in.
He thinks there may be
a growing movement
in the legislature
to pass a statewide lottery.
We cannot balance the budget
by simply making cuts.
If we do that, we do
seriously impact institutions
and the functions
of state government.
I think now that
realization is upon us all.
I will be working
with the members of the House
and the Senate to try
to resolve the problem.
I will have to make
some concessions,
which I'm willing to do.
I will have to change
my attitude,
which I am willing to do.
Apparently now an adequate
number of the House
and the Senate are disposed
to do the same thing.
And the governor
says he's offered
House members a solution
until the budget is balanced.
He wants them to suspend
their own legislative pay
if they have to work past
60 days of the 85 days
session as mandated
by the Constitution.
And he says
he doesn't want a
special session.
My judgment at this time,
if you ask for my judgment
and I will defer to the speaker
and the president
or the Senate .
Is that we probably
will not adjourn early,
that it would be
better business for us
to stay here and do our jobs
and then go home
after the session,
then have to face coming back
while the Senate has set
priorities to be funded
if revenues are raised.
Governor Edwards said he's
willing to compromise
with lawmakers, but he adds
he doesn't necessarily agree
with the proposed priorities.
I have not yet concluded
how I would like to prior
to prior to rise the cuts,
if we begin to move
to try to avoid some of them.
We will see casino
gambling in New Orleans.
We will see it because
it is the only short
and long range
solution to our problems and
because it has the support
of the majority of the
people of this state.
And ultimately
the people end up
getting what they want
and need.
The Senate Judiciary Committee
today gave their
approval to a bill
by Representative
Bert and report that requires
the pardon board
to give written notice
of a hearing to the victim
and the spouse or next of kin
if the offender is
applying for pardon.
The bill requires
the pardon board to notify
the next of kin
of a deceased person
when the applicant goes
before the pardon board
for for a pardon.
Also, it includes psychological
and physical abuse.
And that, of course,
is for rape cases
and abuse of individuals.
And we felt that
it was necessary to do this,
because right now,
local government,
local law enforcement personnel
notify the next of kin.
We felt that in some
cases there has been dramatic
effects of these people
not being notified.
And first thing they know,
they see the Premiere
on the street.
So the pardon board would now
would be required
to notify the next of kin.
A state education
official says the U.S.
attorney's office has demanded
copies of all records
showing how the state
spent federal money
for handicapped students.
Deputy Superintendent Joe
Kyle says
the subpoena came today,
one day after reports
of federal audits
were made public
that stated 13 programs
did little for the
handicapped students
they were supposed to help.
Federal auditors said
education superintendent
Tom Closson and others
repeatedly violated
review procedures
authorizing the spending
of the federal money.
And the audit recommends
that the nine hundred
and twelve thousand dollars
that was wasted
be repaid by the state
before adopting a
one point one billion
dollar capital outlay bill.
The House last night
stripped several
million dollars in
construction projects.
Those projects include
an office of highways
and a wildlife and
fisheries building.
However, most of the projects
included in this bill
will not be funded
during the next fiscal year.
And before that bill passed,
the House voted to exempt
state construction work
from the prevailing wage law.
But before the capital outlay
bill hits the Senate floor.
The state's labor
union leader predicts
it has no chance of passage.
Basically, how much money
do you think it could save over
the next year?
Well, the fiscal note
when we tried to repeal
was twenty seven
million dollars.
I put the quick, quick
pencil to it yesterday
and came up with
30 million dollars.
So it looks like
about 30 million dollars.
They really thought
it was a joke.
Well, it's a joke in a sense,
but it takes a little time
to take it off.
But it'll come off the bill,
there's no question about it.
It could
well jeopardize the bill
if it stayed on.
So it's not going
to stay on the
lawsuits totaling.
Twenty two million
dollars have been filed
this week in Shreveport's
federal court.
They've been filed mostly
by Louisiana pipefitters
and sheet metal workers.
They've been filed
against companies
that manufacture,
sell or distribute products
containing asbestos.
Each lawsuit asks
for nine hundred
thousand dollars in damages,
and the federal government
has ordered a reduction
in workers' exposure
to asbestos.
Federal officials
want to reduce by 90 percent.
The thousands of deaths
and illnesses
blamed on asbestos.
Today,
a bill on the House floor
to limit liability
of architects or engineers
handling asbestos
removal moved a step closer
to final passage.
Bill now
extends that protection
so long as as conformity
with government codes
and government conduct
to engineers and to architects.
Most of the people
who are engaged in cleanup,
however best us are
caused by problems
many years ago, are actual
school personnel.
This would extend
that liability
limitation liability
to those school personnel
when they are mitigating
or cleaning up asbestos.
If we don't do this.
Professional engineers
and architects are
not going to be very
eager to help clean up
asbestos and hazardous waste.
So that's the purpose of
the bill, is to try
to give them some relief
and some encouragement
to clean up.
The House Transportation
Committee this morning
took up the issue of driving
while intoxicated.
A bill by Representative Armand
Brinke House of Sunset
would exempt a DWI violation
from a person's arrest record
for the first or
second violation
under certain circumstances.
What the bill does
is this under the
three conditions, either of.
Three conditions
or any of them.
It would not be remaining
on the civil
side of the record,
keeping with respect
to the civil sanction,
D.W.I was an issue
in another committee today.
The Senate Judiciary
B took up a bill
that provides for the issuance
of a special restricted
license.
In some cases,
of drunk driving.
Presently, the law is
that when a person refuses
to take a blood test or a
test that would indicate
how much alcohol
they had consumed.
Their license is suspended
for 90 to 120 days.
This legislation
merely removes the
the limitation,
gives more discretion
for the judge that an hour
will be marked on
the driver's license,
indicating that it
has been suspended
for the entire
time of the term.
And that same committee took up
still another issue
dealing with alcohol.
Senator John
Johnson of New Orleans
introduced a bill
that requires anyone
applying for a permit
to sell alcoholic beverages
to notify their senator
and representatives.
According to Johnson,
this bill would alleviate
a lot of problems.
There are several districts
around around the state
where people go out
to develop bars and restaurants
and those kind of things.
And in some cases
say they're right
across the street
from a church or whatever
the case may be.
And ministers,
I've had quite a few ministers
to come to me and try to ask me
what can I do in order
to help them with the problem
that they're confronted
with, with
the bill would do
is to force notification
of those liquor permits
to the senators
and the representatives
so that we can have
some kind of an impact
in trying to assess
the ministers
or the church members
to keep ballroom's
right across the street
from from their churches.
While there's been renewed
talk of a lottery today,
there could also
be hope for cable
television bingo
in the state's largest
city, New Orleans.
That bill lies on
the Senate calendar,
waiting to be discussed
on the Senate floor
by its author.
Senator Tom
Casey of New Orleans
says it's a good idea for cable
television to raise money,
possibly for charities.
The system is that individuals
would buy cards for
15 dollars per card.
The card would be
good for a week.
The TV bingo would be run
no more than five days
a week and two hours
per day, usually
after 10 at
10, 30 in the evening,
so that it would not interfere
with other regular bingo games
that were being conducted
at the American Legion homes
and places like that
for charitable purposes
or nonprofit organizations.
Many Capitol observers
today are crediting a strong
trial lawyers lobbying effort
with killing
most of the proposed
liability law reforms.
Today, a final bill.
House Bill 14.
Fifty five by Lafayette
Representative Ron Gomez
has been deferred
in a Senate committee.
That bill would have changed
judicial interest.
That's the interest
on lawsuit damages
actually accumulating
from the time a damage suit
is actually filed.
It would have been changed
from 12 percent to prime rate,
which is now about 10 percent
to plus one percent.
Today, the liability reform
package is lead
author discussed
why reform attempts
have died a slow death
this legislative session.
Well, the littleI
the Trial Lawyers Association
did an outstanding job
of turning the entire question
on the insurance industry.
Never was it addressed
as to why self-insured,
such as the state of Louisiana,
are now paying five times
as much in litigation
and awards as they were five
or six years ago.
Now,
there's no insurance companies
involved in those type
of things.
It's health insurance,
nor are they the municipalities
or governmental agencies.
So
we probably bit off too much.
We probably came at
too big a package
to complicated a package.
We probably should have stayed
within the confines of strict
liability, comparative
negligence, things
that are easily
understood by the public
and that do truly affect
and could truly affect
rate setting.
This morning, the Senate
Judiciary Committee took up
the sensitive issue
of modern science
versus religion.
A bill sponsored
by the Christian
scientists today
expanded on the cruelty
to a juvenile statute
by redefining what a child
in need of care is.
They literally work with them
to do a lot of reading,
a lot of careful prayer,
a lot of examining
of their thought,
which their thought processes
we feel are involved in.
And the original
problem to begin with.
And they straighten that out
and do just what
it sounds flippant,
but they would do
just what the master
Christian Christ
Jesus would do to a patient
if he were called today,
if he were alive
and able to do that.
Today, we follow in
the footsteps of Christ
Jesus as carefully
and as thoroughly as we can.
But the bill as it stood,
could put federal funds
for child abuse in jeopardy
without an amendment
that would give a judge.
Final authority over
whether a child is truly in
need of medical care.
Frankly,
we didn't see a problem
if the laws
we were opposing it,
but we feel that we have
can live with this.
We are concerned about
the Georgia ability
and in certain cases
to alter medical services.
And I believe that
the amendment does,
and I would submit them.
And in that same committee
today, a bill was passed
that strengthens
the penalties for injuring
or killing a police dog.
The legislation,
as amended, increases
the penalty
to six months in jail
and or a fine up
to twenty five hundred dollars.
It is common knowledge
in the criminal community
that, you know, you
can kill a police dog
and it well, practically
nothing will happen to you.
But officers have related
information to us that way.
Their training range is located
next to the parish prison.
And these type of things
are conveyed to these officers
while they're training a dog.
You might train them.
Yeah, but when you get on
the street, we don't kill it.
Criminals have no
they don't give a second
thought to fire.
And yet
a policeman are his dog.
This the
the threat to the officer
and the animal to the team.
This is one thing
that we're trying to deter.
Joining us
in our studio tonight
are Representatives Donald Ray
Kinnard of Baton Rouge
and Representative
Bud Brady of ALOG.
Mr.
Cannon.
At this point, why is the House
so reluctant to raise revenues?
Well, I think the reason
they're reluctant
this particular time is
we have just
we have just finished
cutting out some
600 million dollars
out of the appropriation bill.
And I think that it would be
I guess you would say
it would be ill advised
for us to turn right
around and raise.
I guess you'd say taxes once it
we have cut out the six hundred
million dollars
that the consensus
this morning in our breakfast
was that, you know,
since we've cut so much money
out of the budget,
is we just to sit back
and see what type of impact
that's going to have
before we decide
to raise additional
revenues or additional fees.
Mr.
Brady, is there
now a growing consensus
for a statewide lottery?
I don't know.
Statewide,
I think there's been
a little change at home, but
it's around 50 50 at home.
And at this time, I'm committed
that I cannot vote
for a lottery or
casino gambling.
And that was discussed
yesterday.
The governor discussed
both of them with us.
But I've committed myself
not to vote for him this year.
And I personally don't
do not say that
either one will pass.
Mr. Cannon?
Well,
I would like to make
a comment this morning
that was discussed thoroughly.
And and the governor
admitted this morning
that he probably made
a tactical error
whenever he pushed both casino
gambling and the lottery.
He felt
as if he had only pushed
the lottery that passed,
but it would have had a
better chance of passing. So
after I guess you would say
after a good bit of
discussion this morning,
I think that you
might see a move
in the House
and Senate to maybe
restore the passage
of the lottery.
I, like Representative Brady,
would have a difficult
time voting for it,
but it would be,
I guess you would say, easier
to vote for a lottery
than it would be to vote
for casino gambling.
And I think the move
will be in the next few days
and probably
revise
everyone's thinking
and try to come back
and pass a lottery.
I agree that we will either
go in to extend this session
or go through the
regular session.
We have to adjourn
by midnight July the 14th.
The plans were going out
June 26.
Now, understand that
that probably been changing.
I think that that will
be facing once again
a lottery either
now or during
a special session.
The governor told us yesterday
that if we passed it
and if it was on the
ballot in September
27th at the state
would be receiving
income by December 1st.
I hate to disagree with the
governor, but I think
it's going to take
at least a year to set
the mechanism up.
So really,
I don't think
the issue of the lottery
will solve anything
at the present time.
Now, the state
we have passed enough revenue
enhancements, our tax increases
to offset Category
A, which is minimum foundation
cuts, and 87
percent of the cuts
for your public broadcasting.
Now, you have 13
percent cuts in subject.
We haven't gotten
quite that far.
We're almost there right now.
I talked drifts in around
moving forward before the show,
and he's hopeful
that by the end of the week
that we would have gone
that far to have cut that.
And if we go into a
conference committee,
which I probably
will vote tomorrow
to do that, I'm not sure you
probably the vote
to put it in
conference committee.
The first thing that's going
to be tried on the House
side will be to rearrange
a lot of these categories.
But I've talked to people
that may be on the committee
and they feel like that
they're going to
look after first
to restore the cuts
for minimum foundation
and all of the cuts
for public broadcasting.
Mr.
Kennard, why still is there
such a reluctance
to raise taxes
like a property tax? Luisito.
Anna still has one of the
lowest taxes in the country.
I think it's more
or less traditional.
I think that people just
they really resist.
That's a sacred cow.
I know.
And one of my civic association
and meetings that I attended
prior to the session,
they had one hundred people
at that meeting.
And I proposed or
I ask them what they thought
about raising
their property taxes.
They were unanimous.
One hundred people
said, no,
they did not want their
property taxes raised.
I think I think it's
a psychological barrier
that we have to overcome
in this state.
And even though we are in such
a fiscal crisis right now,
you know, maybe people will
step back and and,
you know, reevaluate
their thinking.
But basically, the reason
that they do not want
the property taxes.
Right, I guess, is
because they haven't
they've never paid property
taxes in this state.
I know I get calls from people
that live in my district
that came here from Minnesota
and New York, Flautre,
and they poor that they don't
have to pay,
that they pay hardly
any property taxes.
So I guess you would think
I guess you would say
it's just the thinking.
I don't want to say
the mentality, but
but the thinking people have,
you know, in Louisiana
that they're not supposed
to buy property taxes
and they resist to
do paying any additional taxes
when it comes to property.
Mr.
Brady, as the Governor
Edwards begins to
get more involved
in the budget process,
is it almost like the beginning
of a new legislative session?
Oh, not really.
I think we have worked
long and hard hours.
And if he can suggest something
to me that would be positive,
I think it would be good.
Right now, we're
all in doubt as what he may
suggest for us to do.
But as of today,
we're still operating
very independently,
and I think we will
continue to do so.
And if he keeps on
insisting on the gambling,
we may go into the
first crisis ever
in the history of the state
and not have a budget
by July the 1st.
Mr. Cannard, Mr.
Brady, thank you for
being our guest this evening.
The House has given
final approval to a bill
requiring consent
of both parties before
recording a conversation.
That bill has been
lobbied heavily
by the governor's
brother, Marion Edwards.
Marion Edwards recently
lost a lawsuit against U.S.
attorneys Dan Bardwell
involving an automobile
telephone conversation
recorded by a third party.
A companion bill
also makes it illegal
to manufacture
eavesdropping equipment.
Haoma representative hunt down
or lead its final passage.
The purpose is to outlaw
the illegal sale, manufacture,
assembly or offering
for sale of
our importation
of eavesdropping
devices excluded
police officers and people
like that from this bill.
Yes, sir.
So that they can still do it.
How can you accidentally
eavesdrop on somebody?
Well, can you do that?
You accidentally might
stumble on to them.
But if you listen,
then you're not accidental.
If you're for
illegal eavesdropping
and the sale of illegal
eavesdropping equipment,
your vote against the bill
if you for good government
and let's keep everybody
honest, let's keep
your conversations
private and confidential
without the fear of someone
trying to listen in
on your communication,
you vote for the bill.
State Senator Ju-Ju Monville
Aventuras is tossing his hat
into a heated US Senate race.
Jim Monville
announced his intention
to run last night
on the Senate floor
as a Democrat.
Jim Monville enters
that heated race
against fellow
Democrats Congressman
John Breaux and Insurance
Commissioner Sherman Benaud.
Congressman Hansen
Moore is running
for that seat as a Republican.
Well, I just think that I add
a dimension to this campaign
that's not been expressed.
I feel like both Moore
and Breaux are similar,
somewhat similar.
They've got very,
very conservative
in their voting record.
And I don't think
that the population
of Louisiana is totally
that conservative.
I think that they have failed
to represent to the people
the true issues of the campaign
for 17 years.
Warren Burger was the
nation's chief justice,
but he's decided
to leave the job.
President Reagan says
Berger is stepping down
from the Supreme Court
to head the 1987
observance of the
US Constitution's
two hundredth anniversary.
Reagan has chosen
Justice William Rehnquist
to be the new chief justice.
And the head of Louisiana's
Big Charity
Hospital in New Orleans
says the hospital
may have to cut its
operation in half.
If proposed state budget
cuts are adopted,
Director Elliott Roberts
says the Senate's proposed
budget leaves 12
million dollars from
charities funding,
and that could mean the closure
of four hundred beds
and turning away
as many as 1000 people a day.
And Roberts calls
that an impossible situation.
And a few final notes.
The House today killed
a Senate resolution
to suspend the blue
laws immediately
before the effective
date of the repeal,
which is December 1st.
Over in the Senate,
a bill that restricts
visitation between a child
and the parent who subjects
that child to abuse
won unanimous approval
from the House today.
The bill by Senator
William Jefferson passed
ninety seven to zero.
And finally, a House
committee today approved a bill
that could generate some
two million dollars
for the state.
The bill by Senator Don
Kelly calls for a two dollars
handling fee to be imposed
on license tags.
Whether you walk in
or have it mailed to you.
The money generated
would go to keep the driver's
license bureaus
in the state open.
That's our show for tonight.
Hope you enjoyed it.
We'll be back again
tomorrow night
with another edition
of Legislative Report.