President Obama released his fiscal year 2016 budget proposal, an ambitious attempt to set the narrative for the upcoming year. Also, why aren’t Asian “dreamers” taking advantage of Obama’s temporary clemency program? Then, broadcast veteran Joel Tator discusses the history of LA television.
Obama releases 2016 budget: Which parts can he push through?
Today, President Obama released his fiscal year 2016 budget proposal, an ambitious attempt to set the narrative for the upcoming year despite criticism that most of it will not pass Congress.
The budget contains a plethora of priorities that the administration is committed to funding: free community college for the vast majority of students, expansion of early childhood education and universal preschool, cybersecurity improvements, “resources to degrade and ultimately defeat ISIL,” an increase in support for scientific research, and continued financing of the Affordable Care Act.
Among the administration’s biggest proposals for FY 2016 are a one-time, transitional tax holiday that would tax corporations at the lower rate of 14% in order to incentivize them to repatriate over a trillion dollars in offshore holdings, comprehensive immigration reform based on the Senate’s “Gang of Eight” legislation, limited proposals for tax reform regarding banks and high-earning individuals, as well as a substantial increase in infrastructure spending.
Notably, the President has called for an increase in both defense and non-defense discretionary spending by $38 billion and $37 billion, respectively. This would end the strict caps put on both types of budget priorities that are known in Washington budget-speak as “sequestration.” Congress allowed sequestration to occur during previous budget battles, yet Republicans are anxious to increase defense spending while Democrats are itching to increase non-defense spending.
Because the executive branch does not debate and vote on legislation, the only guarantee is that the President’s budget will not come out the same as it went in. This is particularly true as the new Republican-controlled Senate joins the Republican House in spars with the White House. Therefore the question is not what budget is best for the country but rather what budget can Washington compromise on.
Which priorities do you think President Obama will be able to push through? Are any revenue-increases truly “dead-on-arrival?” How will this budget shape the narrative for the upcoming year and 2016?
Guests:
Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a non-partisan public policy organization based in Washington, D.C. dedicated to federal budget issues
Jodi Schneider, Editor of the Congress & Tax Policy desk, Bloomberg News
Why aren’t Asian 'dreamers' taking advantage of Obama’s temporary clemency program?
President Obama’s immigration action could benefit millions of young undocumented people by granting them temporary deportation relief. But immigration advocates are worried that one group of people would be reluctant in taking advantage of the program: Asians.
The Deferred Action program started in 2012 Young undocumented Asian people for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program since it was launched in 2012. According to the organization Asian American Advancing Justice, only 25 percent of Koreans and Filipinos eligible for deferred action have applied. For Chinese, who make up the biggest undocumented Asian population in the country, the number is so low it is statistically negligible.
What are the factors contributing to such a low turnout? What can be done about it?
Guests:
Betty Hung, Esq., Policy Director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles, an organization working to advance civil and human rights for Asian Americans
Michelle Yoon, Executive and Development Assistant at the organization, California Immigrant policy Center. She is also a member of ASPIRE, an organization that works with young undocumented Asian Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles
Super Bowl ads 2015: The good, the bad, and the ugly.
When all the talk around the final score of last night’s big game settles, there’s still the topic of the Super Bowl ads.
Many viewers tune in on Super Bowl Sunday just to watch the commercials. As always, expectations are high from yearly heavyweights like Budweiser, Pepsi, GoDaddy, and Doritos, but there’s always the potential that a new or less-well-known company could shine. Whose ads will be viral and whose will be an afterthought?
For a look at all of the ads from last night's game, click HERE.
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Guests:
Keith Quesenberry, professor of marketing, advertising, and social media at Johns Hopkins University. He spent 17 years as a creative director and copywriter on marketing campaigns for companies like Exxon Mobil, Hershey, and Delta Air Lines.
Anita Newton, Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Adknowledge, digital advertising technology company that focuses on video advertising.
Global money news: Currency war heats up; Croatia cancels debt of poor
Denmark and Switzerland unwillingly are facing lower currency values, while the supposedly peace-loving Canadians let their dollar slide to a six-year low as of Friday - giving their export-market a beast-mode advantage.
As Bloomberg columnist Mark Gilbert writes, "The genesis of the present currency war is the desire of every country for a weaker currency to boost exports and growth." Stateside, the U.S. dollar has increased 15% against the world's major currencies. Manufacturers including Apple, Caterpillar and Proctor & Gamble warn their goods will be less competitive if the trends continue. What is the redress for currency manipulation?
Also there was unprecedented economic news in Croatia this weekend. Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic cancels debt obligations of its poorest citizens. Starting today, 317,000 Croats will regain entry to their blocked bank accounts. Analysts say the government merely acted as a catalyst for a financial inevitability facing creditors. Finally, the Greek bailout deal of 2010 seems to be back on the table due to a new government challenging repayment terms. The new left-wing government said its obligations are suffocating the country's economy with no hope of catching up. What are the options?
Guest:
Jacob Kirkegaard, Economist, Peterson Institute for International Economics
Is fake engine noise becoming the norm for American car manufacturers?
For car enthusiasts, there are few things in life quite as satisfying as slamming the pedal of a Corvette or Mustang to the floor and hearing the deep, guttural roar that has been synonymous with American-made performance cars for years. But it sounds like recently, more American car manufacturers are modifying or altering engine noise to be louder.
Because newer engines are more fuel-efficient and therefore run more quietly, car manufacturers are starting to pump in artificial engine sound through special pipes or completely digitally made. Manufacturers worry that today's quieter, more fuel-efficient engines might push some buyers away.
Would you be bothered by fake or altered engine noise? Why is it important for a car engine to sound a certain way?
Guest:
Aaron Robinson, executive editor at Car and Driver magazine
An insider’s account of the history of Los Angeles television
The history of television in Los Angeles started with a station called W6XA0, which broadcasted from a transmitter at the intersection of Seventh and Bixel streets.
It was on the air one hour a day, except Sunday. The station was the brainchild of a Cadillac dealer named Don Lee, and would eventually become KCBS-TV.
Tom Brokaw, Betty White, Bob Hope, news anchor Connie Chung all got their start here, and the nascent industry was a pioneer particularly in the field of television news—it was the first place in the nation to use helicopter for news-gathering and it broadcasted the first live coverage of an atomic bomb test.
Author Joel Tator will be signing copies of his new book, "Los Angeles Television" this Friday, Feb. 6 at the Last Bookstore in Downtown.
Guest:
Joel Tator, author, “Los Angeles Television” (Arcadia Publishing, 2015), A multiple Emmy Award winner, Tator has produced and directed more than 8,500 broadcasts