Today marks the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. once stood and delivered his dream for racial equality. Now President Barack Obama and former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter are set to speak at this same spot. NPR will be providing special coverage of the event on AirTalk. Then, should Congress be recalled to debate possible action in Syria? Lastly, Governor Brown proposes using the state’s emergency fund to keep prisoners behind bars. Is this a good plan?
NPR Special Coverage of the March on Washington anniversary events
Washington DC will be buzzing on Wednesday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. The most notable event will be at the Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Jr. once stood and sounded out his dream for racial equality. Fifty years later, President Barack Obama and former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter are set to speak at this same spot and pay tribute to this historic day.
This event will be broadcast live during AirTalk.
Were you at the March 50 years ago or did you watch it on television? How has social rights moved forward since that date? What more needs to be done? What is your dream for the country now?
Should Congress be recalled to debate action on Syria?
A growing number of lawmakers in Washington are urging President Barack Obama to consult Congress and receive authorization before using military force in Syria. Representative Scott Rigell (R-VA) sent a letter to the White House outlining such arguments, and has at least 65 co-signatories from both sides of the aisle. Californians in the House who have signed are: Rep. John Campbell (R), Rep. Tom McClintock (R) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D).
There are different legal interpretations about the President’s power to engage in hostilities abroad without Congressional authorization. Analysts say in the current case of Syria, there is no clear self-defense rationale, however, the War Powers Act only requires Congressional approval if U.S. military action exceeds 60 days.
Guest:
Zoe Lofgren, Democratic Congresswoman representing California’s 19th District (San Jose)
Governor Brown proposes raiding state’s emergency fund to keep prisoners behind bars
Governor Jerry Brown is still reluctant to release prisoners from CA state prisons to comply with judges’ orders to ease overcrowding. Brown instead is proposing that the state pay to house inmates in other facilities, including private prisons in and out of state and county jails. Brown’s proposal is expected to cost $315 million over the next year and $415 million for the following two years.
The plan is getting opposition from members of both parties. Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) said in a statement that Brown’s proposal is one with “no promise and no hope,” arguing that any plan should be focused on a long term goal of keeping people out of prisons. Earlier this year, three federal judges ruled the conditions in California prisons to be unconstitutional—mainly due to overcrowding—and ordered 9,600 prisoners be released by the end of the year.
What is the best way to reduce the prison population in California? Is it wise to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to keep these inmates locked up, or is there a way they could be safely released?
Guests:
Bob Huff, Republican leader of the California State Senate, representing District 29, which stretches from Anaheim to Diamond Bar
Ted Lieu, Democratic California State Senator, representing Senate District 28, which includes the cities of Carson, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance, as well as portions of Los Angeles and Long Beach.