AirTalk debates a new state bill that would set market rates for commercial healthcare to bring down costs. We also bring you the latest in political news this week; debate the pros and cons of Gov. Brown’s major water tunnel project ahead of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s vote tomorrow; and more.
Week in politics: US and others respond to Syria chemical attack, what North Korea really means by 'denuclearization' and more
AirTalk’s weekly political roundtable.
Topics subject to change but here’s what we’re watching through the weekend:
The latest on the Syria chemical strike, plus Trump
Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018Putin by name on Twitter, John McCain tweets that Trump saying he was going to pull troops out of Syria may have emboldened Assad to carry out this attack and Russia blames Israel for follow-up airstrikes
Sanctions on Russian oligarchs
North Korea willing to discuss denuclearization, but does that word mean the same to us as it does them?
China trade war latest
Zuckerberg testifying before Congress tomorrow
NYT: GOP seizing on impeachment as an edge in 2018 midterms
GOP focuses on saving Senate majority
Paul Ryan may be on the outs if midterms go south for GOP
Scott Pruitt’s political future
More on plans for National Guard at border – TX & AZ to deploy troops
Evangelical leaders want a sit down with Trump over Stormy Daniels
Trump to skip White House correspondents dinner
Guests:
Pete Peterson, dean of the School of Public Policy and senior fellow at The Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University; he tweets
Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist and founder and chief executive officer of Rodriguez Strategies; he is also a former senior Obama advisor in 2008; he tweets
California bill takes on high healthcare costs – by setting prices for medical services
The fight for equitable healthcare in the state is branching off to another front.
A new Assembly bill has been introduced today that would let the state set prices for medical services - from doctor’s visits to hospital stays - provided by private insurers. The pricing structure would be comparable to what the government pays for similar services under Medicare.
The bill would create an independent state entity that would set rates for the commercial market. It would also set up an appeals process by which, for example, a hospital could appeal to charge more for a service, if they can justify the cost.
Opponents of the bill say this will cause hospitals to rollback services and also cause physicians to leave California.
Would this independent California entity effectively set prices for the state? Will this bill have negative, unintended repercussions? What would be the implications for the healthcare market in the state?
Guests:
Gerard Anderson, M.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Hospital Finance and Management; professor of medicine and public health at Johns Hopkins
Theodore Mazer, M.D., president of the California Medical Association
Ahead of MWD’s vote on water tunnel project tomorrow, we re-debate the pros/cons
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will vote on Tuesday on a major water infrastructure project under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
The California WaterFix, as it is officially known, is one of Governor Jerry Brown’s signature projects and seeks to update the state’s aging water infrastructure to ensure a stable water delivery system throughout the state.
The original project, which includes the construction of two water tunnels at a total cost of about $17 billion, suffered a setback from complaints of its extravagant price tag. After much back and forth between different stakeholders, the plan was for the state to construct just a single tunnel. The scaled back version is estimated to cost about $11 billion.
The MWD vote on Tuesday was going to be on the one-tunnel option, but on Friday, the agency abruptly changed its mind and put the two-tunnel option back on the table. Either way, customers with MDW would see an increase on their bills whichever option moves forward.
Guests:
Bettina Boxall, water issues and environmental reporter for the Los Angeles Times; she tweets
Robert Hunter, general manager of the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC)
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director and cofounder of Restore the Delta, an organization committed to restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to help fisheries and farming thrive
Patrick Cavanaugh, Fresno-based broadcaster with the California Ag Today Radio Network; editor of Vegetables West and Pacific Nut Producer magazines
Controversial classifieds website Backpage.com is now under government seizure, but for what reason and on what grounds?
The government has seized Backpage.com, a major classified ads site used by the sex industry that has been repeated accused of enabling sex trafficking.
The move came in light of Craigslist.org shutting down its “adult” section, after Congress passed a bill known as Fosta, a measure that makes it easier for states to charge online and internet companies deemed to enable sex trafficking.
What does this mean for sex workers who advertise on Backpage? Where will they go now? If the goal is to reduce pimping, will the seizure of Backpage be successful in doing so?
Guests:
“Siouxsie Q” James, sex worker, member board of directors of the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee, and host of The WhoreCast, a podcast that explores the world of sex work through the lens of sex workers
Barb Brents, professor of sociology at UNLV; she has been researching the sex industry for 25 years and is a co-author of “The State of Sex: Tourism, Sex and Sin in the New American Heartland” (Routledge, 2010)
Cosby sexual assault retrial returns to court, will put #MeToo movement to the test
The retrial of Bill Cosby on sexual assault charges is set to begin on Monday in Philadelphia.
Cosby is charged with drugging and molesting former basketball player Andrea Constand in 2004 at his Philadelphia home. The comedian insists the sexual encounter was consensual. The trial that could last about a month will be the first time the case returns to court since the #MeToo movement which some analysts predict will have an impact on the proceedings of the case this time around. A judge declared a mistrial in June after jurors failed to reach a verdict.
Guest:
Ambrosio Rodriguez, former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney; he led the sex crimes team in the Riverside County D.A.’s office