House Democrats revolt against the Obama tax deal. Jerry Brown - the new budget sheriff in town. Exposition light rail delays. The Obama Administration's shifting stance on Israel. Peggy Orenstein does NOT heart boobies bracelets.
House Democrats say they won’t take up Obama’s tax bill
Congressional Democrats find Obama’s deal with the GOP on tax cuts a hard pill to swallow. They want an extension of unemployment benefits, but don’t want to stomach the trade off--a tax cut for Americans earning over $250,000. And they’ve decided to do something about it. This morning, the House Democratic Caucus voted to reject the deal in its current form. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) told the Associated Press: “If it’s take it or leave it, we’ll leave it.” Will this tough stance by House Democrats affect the final policy? And is there still room for compromise anywhere in Washington?
Guest:
Jack Shaw, Capitol Hill reporter for Market News International
Jerry Brown’s proposed budget ultimatum - tax hikes or service cuts
Governor-elect Jerry Brown told a budget forum in Sacramento yesterday that California’s projected deficit next year will reach 28-billion dollars. Both Brown and Governor Schwarzenegger say that the state’s intractable budget problem demands immediate action. But lawmakers have avoided the really tough choices over the last decade, enacting only temporary “solutions” that didn’t last. Now, Brown is considering putting it to voters – approve new taxes or other revenue in a special election, or live with far fewer government services. Will voters be willing to make the necessary sacrifices? Given how out of balance this budget is, what would you do to solve this crisis?
Guest:
Evan Halper, Sacramento Bureau Chief, Los Angeles Times
L.A.’s light rail - overdue & over-budget
The Westside of Los Angeles is known for its beautiful beaches, inviting neighborhoods – and mindboggling traffic jams. Five years ago, work finally began on the Exposition Line, a light rail line that would run from Santa Monica to downtown LA. But its construction has been plagued by delays, contract problems and political maneuvering. The budget now sits at $899 million—about $250 million over its initial projected cost. Residents hoped the first trains would run this summer, but now hear they may be delayed by a year or more. Why is the project so off-track? And when, ultimately, will Westsiders get their first ride?
Guests:
Gene Maddaus, reporter for the LA Weekly who wrote an investigative piece on Expo cost overruns and delays
Darrell Clark, co-chair of Friends4Expo Transit, and a long-time supporter of the line.
Obama Administration shifts stance on Israel, abandoning settlement freeze
On Friday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is slated to give a speech in which she’ll discuss a new approach to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. One major change that’s expected: the Administration is apparently dropping its insistence on a temporary freeze on Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, where there are currently some 500,000 Israeli settlers. The freeze was needed, say some observers, to draw Palestinians back to the negotiating table. Meanwhile, Argentina and Brazil have recognized “Palestine” in recent days. How will these developments impact the chance of lasting peace in the Middle East? And has the U.S. lost its ability to act as a broker, by dropping its key demand on the Israeli government?
Guests:
Amjad Atallah, co-director of the Middle East task force at the New America Foundation
Jacob Dayan, Israeli Consul General for Los Angeles
Peggy Orenstein does NOT heart boobies! bracelets
What’s so sexy about breast cancer? That’s what author Peggy Orenstein asks in “Think About Pink,” a recent essay she wrote for New York Times Magazine. Sparked by seeing a friend’s 12-year old daughter wearing an “I heart boobies” wristband, Orenstein explores breast cancer awareness campaigns from the 1970s to today. She argues that this latest trend, meant to be playful, actually sexualizes breast cancer, discourages understanding, and undermines the search for better detection, treatments, and cures for a disease that still afflicts 250,000 women annually. What do you think about pink? Is the real experience of having breast cancer getting lost among too many pink and perky teddy bears? Who benefits from pink ribbons and “I heart boobies” wristbands?
Guest:
Peggy Orenstein is a contributing writer to New York Times Magazine; her newest book, Cinderella Ate My Daughter, will be published in February 2011