The latest on the debt ceiling vote. President Obama announces new fuel efficiency standards. FilmWeek: KPCC film critics Henry Sheehan, Andy Klein and Charles Solomon join Larry to review the week’s new film releases including Cowboys & Aliens; The Smurfs; Crazy, Stupid, Love; Attack the Block; The Devil's Double; Good Neighbor and more. TGI-FilmWeek! Jack Larson on director James Bridges.
Debt ceiling vote
Yesterday, House Speaker John Boehner introduced his plan to raise the debt ceiling in the House of Representatives. The plan would cut $1 trillion in spending and rely on a bipartisan committee to make further reductions in entitlement programs and governmental departments. While initially touted as a possible solution to the debt debate, or at least a means of gaining leverage for the GOP, it stalled after failing to gain enough support among conservative Republicans for not including provisions requiring the government to adopt a balanced budget. This is a moot point however, as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was poised to kill the bill using a procedural maneuver if it were to make it out of the House and introduce his own legislation. Reid plans on introducing a bill today which would slash the deficit by $2.2 trillion using “triggers” to ensure votes on other forms of deficit-reduction. While Democrats are rallying around Reid, Republicans have promised a filibuster. Due to the apparent deadlock, President Obama made remarks today saying that Boehner’s bill “does not solve the problem” and that “any solution to avoid default must be bipartisan.” With the economy growing at a 1.3% pace and the August 2nd deadline looming, the very real possibility of a federal default could have disastrous results. What will happen if no progress is made over the upcoming days? Is a bipartisan bill to address the issue even possible? What will it take for both sides of the aisle to put aside their differences and reach a solution for the rest of the country?
Guests:
David Jackson, White House Correspondent, USA Today
Tom McClintock, (R-CA) U.S. Congressman representing District 4 which includes northeastern corner of California along Route 395, encompassing El Dorado, Placer, Nevada, Sierra, Plumas, Lassen, and Modoc counties, as well as parts of Butte County including Oroville and a small portion of Sacramento County including Orangevale
Adam Schiff, (D-CA) U.S. Congressman representing District 29 which includes Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Glendale, Griffith Park, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena andTemple City
John Campbell, (R-CA) U.S. Congressman representing District 48 which includes Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel
Henry Waxman, (D-CA) U.S. Congressman representing District 30 which includes Santa Monica, Malibu, West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, most of Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, and large portions of the Santa Monica Mountains: Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Hidden Hills and Topanga
Full speed ahead on fuel standards
Debt isn't the only thing President Obama wants to reduce and today he announced a deal that is being touted as the largest decrease in auto fuel consumption since the 1970s. He took time out from the budget showdown to announce an agreement to double overall fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. What does this mean for auto manufacturing? How much of an impact can this have on the environment? How will this affect drivers at the pump?
Guests:
Jessica Caldwell, senior analyst at edmunds.com
Roland Hwang, Transportation Director, Natural Resources Defense Council
Eric Noble, president of The CarLab, an automotive consulting firm in Orange, California
FilmWeek: Cowboys & Aliens; The Smurfs; Crazy, Stupid, Love; Attack the Block; The Devil's Double; Good Neighbor and more
FilmWeek: KPCC film critics Henry Sheehan, Andy Klein and Charles Solomon join Larry to review the week’s new film releases including Cowboys & Aliens; The Smurfs; Crazy, Stupid, Love; Attack the Block; The Devil's Double; Good Neighbor and more. TGI-FilmWeek!
Guests:
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and henrysheehan.com Andy Klein, film critic for KPCC Charles Solomon, film critic for KPCC; animation critic, author and historian for amazon.com
Live tweeting this week's reviews:
Jack Larson on director James Bridges
James Bridges was a reclusive and respected film director best known for such seminal films as The Paper Chase, The China Syndrome and Urban Cowboy. Bridges rarely gave interviews over his lengthy career, but he did share a productive artistic relationship with his life partner of 35 years, Jack Larson. Larson is a revered writer in his own right, having turned to writing for the stage and screen after getting his start in show business playing the youthful photographer and reporter Jimmy Olsen on the TV series The Adventures of Superman. A new book on Bridges’ life, The Films of James Bridges, serves as a touchstone for Larson’s recollections of his partner’s life and work. What are your favorite James Bridges films? How does film provide an artistic voice for reclusive directors and performers?
Guest:
Jack Larson, actor, screenwriter and producer; best known for his portrayal of photographer/reporter Jimmy Olsen in the TV series Adventures of Superman