Larry talks about the cuts to the California budget, and the idea of Charter schools being unionized. Then, is the recession over? And, he talks with Russ Parsons about the debate over organic foods.
More cuts to state budget
Governor Schwarzenegger signed California’s budget yesterday, but used a line-item veto to impose nearly $500 million in additional cuts to state programs, mostly in health and human services. $50 million will be cut from Healthy Families, which provides health care to children from low-income families. Additionally, a decrease of $6.2 in parks funding could lead to the closure of 100 state parks. The governor wants the money saved from the spending cuts to be set aside in the case of future budget shortfalls. Larry Mantle looks at what the additional cuts mean for state programs in California.
Assemblymember John A. Perez (D-46, Los Angeles), Democratic Caucus Chair
Traci Verardo-Torres, VP, Government Affairs, California State Parks Foundation
Jean Ross, Executive Director, California Budget Project
Charter schools to unionize?
Many of the nation's charter schools are unionizing. While teachers in district-operated public schools are union members, charter schools receive government money but are managed by outside organizations that choose whether or not to unionize. How are charter school unions different from those at traditional public schools? What do California's charter school teachers stand to gain (or lose) by unionizing? Larry Mantle and guests explore the impact teachers' unions have on public education.
A.J. Duffy, President of United Teachers Los Angeles
Steve Barr, Founder and Chairman of Green Dot Schools
Is the recession over...almost?
Big banks are showing profits again... the impressive numbers included a $3 billion second-quarter profit announced Friday by Citigroup and $2.4 billion for Bank of America. They followed similarly robust earnings for Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. Housing sales are up too. And the Dow and other stock markets are strengthening. Is it time to start popping corks and celebrating the end to the recession? Well, no. Unemployment continues to increase and is at its highest in 26 years. But maybe, just maybe, the worst of the recession is over.
Michael Santoli, associate editor at Barron's
Chris Thornberg, Principal, Beacon Economics Christopher Thornberg
Albert "Pete" Kyle, professor of Finance at the University of Maryland
The debate over organic
Summer is a great season for produce. With so many choices consumers are faced with one more choice: organic or not? Are organic fruits and vegetables better than non-organic? It has been a looming argument since the organic food movement got started. Yet, critics argue that answer to good produce isn't solely reliant on the method of farming. Seasonality, locality and taste are all integral components in choosing good produce.
Russ Parsons, Food Editor and columnist for the Los Angeles Times