A Race to the Top education plan for CA; Delays for state stimulus projects; A preview of the governor's State of the State speech; New laws for 2010; A GOP midterm elections comeback?; and Laura Scott discusses married couples who are childless by choice.
"Race to the Top" vote today
Both houses of the state legislature will vote today on an education plan that would allow California to compete for up to $700 million in funding under President Obama's Race to the Top program. The legislation includes some controversial provisions, including one that would allow students in the 1,000 worst schools in California to apply to a better school anywhere in the state. Also included is a parent trigger provision that would allow parents to petition to reform failing schools. Larry talks the pros and cons of Race to the Top.
Guests:
David Sanchez, President of the California Teachers Association
Margaret Fortune, President/CEO, Fortune School of Education, Trustee, California State University System
Jack O’Connell, State Superintendent of Public Education
Ben Austin, founder of the Los Angeles-based parent advocacy group "Parent Revolution"
Stimulus money bottle neck in California
A bureaucratic backlog is delaying the start of stimulus projects in California, according to the state's federal stimulus watchdog. In a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger, state inspector general Laura Chick said that the Office of Historic Preservation has a two-month backlog in approving stimulus-funded construction projects, and needs more staff to speed up the process. Larry talks with Laura Chick about the delays.
Guest:
Laura Chick, California Inspector General
State of the State preview
Governor Schwarzenegger is due to deliver his final State of the State speech Wednesday morning. On tap for discussion are the budget, joblessness, and an appeal to the federal government for bailout funds. How else will Schwarzenegger use the bully pulpit? We preview the speech with KPCC's Sacramento reporter, Julie Small.
Guest:
Julie Small, KPCC's Sacramento reporter
New laws for 2010
It is now illegal to shorten a cow's tail. Airports are now permitted to kill birds. These were just a couple of the odder laws that came into effect on New Year's Day. What other changes come were there and how will they impact your life?
Guest:
Tracy Westen, CEO of the Center for Governmental Studies
Route to a rout? Can the Dems win in 2010?
Could this be a comeback year for the GOP? Republicans are hoping to capitalize on the struggling economy to gain seats in Congress and state governorships in the 2010 midterm elections. But the Republican Party faces a challenge to raise enough money to fund the campaigns, and while approval of Democratic representatives is low, Republicans are polling even lower. Larry Mantle discusses the outlook for both parties in 2010.
Guests:
Chris Cillizza, Washington Post political reporter and author of "The Fix" political blog on WashingtonPost.com
Peter Nicholas, reporter for the Los Angeles Times
Christopher Lehane, Political Consultant, Fabiani & Lehane
Matthew Continetti, Associate Editor, The Weekly Standard
Beyond breeding: childless by choice
Can a couple live a happy life without children? Laura Scott takes a look at America's falling birth rate in her book, "Two is Enough" and considers when and why couples choose to remain childless. How common is the decision? And what sort of "family values" emerge from two-person clans?
Guest:
Laura S. Scott, author of "Two is Enough: A Couple's Guide to Living Childless by Choice" (Seal Press)