Health Care Plan; Striking Writers Look for Alternative; Draining Two of L.A.'s Resevoirs; U.N. Climate Conference in Bali; The Inner Workings of Broadway
Health Care Plan
After almost a year of negotiations, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez have agreed upon an ambitious health care plan that would extend health insurance to the estimated 3.6 million Californians who do not have it. The plan would require that employers spend between 1% and 6.5% of their payroll costs on healthcare and would also include a tax on tobacco sales of at least $1.50 a pack. Joining Larry to discuss the proposed measure are Daniel Zingale, Senior Advisor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Andy Stern, President of the Service Employees International Union.
Striking Writers Look for Alternative
Striking film and television writers are in negotiations with venture capitalists to establish businesses that would bypass the Hollywood studio system and reach audiences via the Web. At least seven groups of striking WGA members have plans to form Internet-based companies that ideally could create an alternative economic model to the studio-based system. Larry discusses the issue with Jim Kennedy, Spokesman for the Association for the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Draining Two of L.A.'s Resevoirs
City officials announced on Friday that an unexpected chemical reaction in the Silver Lake and Elysian reservoirs will necessitate dumping 600 million gallons of water from the two reservoirs that supply a large part of the city. The decision was brought about after traces of the suspected carcinogen bromate were detected between June and October, resulting from a combination of naturally occurring bromide, intense sunlight, and chlorine used to kill bacteria. David Nahai, General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power talks with Larry about L.A.'s ongoing water conservation concerns.
U.N. Climate Conference in Bali
Delegates from 190 countries met at the U.N. climate conference in Bali last week, with the goal of negotiating how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over time. Frustrated with the United States' stance, members of the European Union threatened to boycott a conference in Hawaii proposed by the Bush administration for next month. Larry talks with experts about the results of the conference.
The Inner Workings of Broadway
Larry talks with Tony Award-winning Broadway Producer and author of How Does the Show Go On?: An Introduction to the Theater (Disney Editions), Thomas Schumacher about the inner-workings of Broadway, and about current issues facing the musical industry.