Larry talks about reform of CA's home health care program, discusses how Joe Biden is doing as Vice President, and talks about ethics for food bloggers.
Governor targets home health fraud
Governor Schwarzenegger has pledged to limit the "waste, fraud, and abuse" in California's In-Home Supportive Services program, which provides care to senior citizens and the disabled. He says that the state could save $400-500 million per year through stricter regulations, including mandatory fingerprinting of home health recipients and providers and IHSS enforcement through unannounced home visits. State Democrats and program advocates argue that the governor is cutting essential services to close the budget gap. Larry Mantle discusses the details of the proposal.
John Spillane, Chief Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County
George Runner, Republican California State Senator from Lancaster, representing the 17th District
Eva Lopez, Deputy Director for Adult Programs, California Department of Social Services
Joe Biden as vice president
Vice president Joe Biden has taken an influential role in the Obama administration. He oversaw distribution of the economic stimulus, and he helped to formulate the administration's approach to Afghanistan. But Biden also has a well-known tendency for "rhetorical flourishes", sometimes running counter to the administration's message, and requiring clarification by the White House. This past week, President Obama was forced to explain Biden's comments about the economic crisis and a preemptive Israeli attack on Iran. How do you view Joe Biden's performance as vice president? Does his experience outweigh his potential liability? Larry Mantle and a guest talk with listeners.
Mark Barabak, political correspondent for the L.A. Times
Chew on this: ethics for food bloggers
Sites like Chowhound and Eater LA have changed the world of food reporting forever. Now, anyone with a fork and a keyboard can weigh in, potentially impacting a restaurant’s business. Last week, Eater LA posted an anonymous tip slamming the safety standards and quality of food served at the Must, a wine bar downtown. They did this, without contacting the restaurant first. The restaurant’s owners refuted the post, and the site issued an online apology – two days later. Was this a case of bad ethics or bad journalism? Should food bloggers be held to the same code of ethics as traditional journalists? Larry talks with blogosphere foodies and takes listener calls.
Pat Saperstein, Senior Editor at Variety, and founder of the award-winning food blog Eating LA
Kelly McBride, Ethics Faculty Member at the Poynter Institute