Today on AirTalk, we preview the issues and elections on tomorrow's California ballot, invite NPR's Tamara Keith to return to her old stomping grounds of KPCC, look at recent public opinion surrounding the state's high-speed rail project, discuss a new law that could force you to save for retirement, and examine "problem people" in life and how best to deal with them.
What you need to know about the June 5 election
Tomorrow, voters in California go to the polls for a series of local, state and federal positions.
It's the first test of the state's new open primary system which was voted in via Prop 14 in 2010. Voters can now cast their ballot for any candidate in U.S Congress and state legislature races regardless of party. Californians will also be voting on two initiatives. Prop 28 -- to amend California legislature term limits - and Prop 29 which would introduce a tax on tobacco to fund cancer research.
The initial stage of the District Attorney race will also take place on Tuesday, along with voting on a number of local measures. This includes the board of supervisors race in San Bernardino and the possible recall of three Fullerton City Council members in response to the beating death of Kelly Thomas in Fullerton last year. AirTalk previews the campaigns and the races ahead of polling day.
Guests:
Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter
Bob Stern, “former” president of the Center For Governmental Studies (ask him for an update on his title) and good governance expert
Thad Kousser, Associate Professor of Political Science, UC San Diego
Sherry Bebitch-Jeffe, Political analyst and senior fellow at USC’s School of Policy, Planning and Development
Steven Cuevas, KPCC’s Inland Empire Reporter
NPR’s Congressional reporter Tamara Keith stops by KPCC to talk politics
They say you can’t go home again. Fortunately, in the case of reporter Tamara Keith, that’s not the case. Not too long ago, Keith was KPCC’s Sacramento reporter. Now, she’s covering all things political as NPR’s Congressional Reporter.
Since joining NPR in 2009, Keith has reported on topics spanning from business and debt ceiling battles to the latest in policy debates, legal issues and technology trends. As a graduate student at UC Berkeley’s School of Journalism, Keith began her career in public radio with member station KQED’s California Report covering topics from agriculture to the environment. Keith then parlayed that experience into what would become her forte, covering politics and elections at NPR member station WOSU in Columbus, Ohio.
Staying on track with the political beat, Keith joined us here at KPCC, opening the State Capitol bureau, before heading back north to KQED where she reported on Sacramento for two years. Since 2001, Keith has also hosted, produced and distributed her pet project B-Side Radio, a public radio show and podcast she co-founded.
Before all that, Keith was a childhood actor and model, who was listed as one of the Bay Area’s 15 Under 30 who were making a name for themselves by the San Francisco Chronicle. Since Keith’s in town for some public radio schmoozing, we decided to pull her back into our own studios for an update on all things D.C.
Guest:
Tamara Keith, NPR’s Congressional Reporter on the Washington Desk
Is California’s proposed bullet train a potential misfire?
Californians have already seen the proposed $68-billion high-speed rail project’s deadline pushed back, as well as its price tag go up. Now, in light of these setbacks, tough economic times and Gov. Jerry Brown’s pressuring of Sacramento to green-light rail construction in the Central valley, it appears as if the public has soured on the mega-infrastructure plan.
In 2008, voters approved the project by 52.7 percent. Now, 55 percent are calling for the issue to be placed back on a ballot for a vote, and 59 percent say they would vote it down. 67 percent of Southern California voters would oppose it if it was on the ballot again, and even expected stalwarts such as union members and Democrats are by no means making up the difference. 56 percent of union households are now against the plan, and only 43 percent of Democrats say they’d vote for it. 76 percent of Republicans, unsurprisingly, would reject it.
This is troublesome for the California High-Sped Rail Authority, which has already had to fight public opinion on this project. Also, voters may see a direct connection between this project and Gov. Brown’s proposed tax increase on the November ballot, which could end up being voted down. That would place the state in even more dire economic straits.
Proponents of the plan are taking the long view, saying that airports are soon going to be too crowded, the rail will open up economic opportunities for work and tourism in the state and decrease the state’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Which side will win out in the end? Is the plan likely to make its way back to the ballot? How can Gov. Brown and the California High-Speed Rail Authority assuage voters’ reservations about the project? Is it just too expensive? Do you think the bullet train is worth it and, more importantly at this point, realistic?
Guest:
Ralph Vartabedian, National Correspondent for the Los Angeles Times
Are you saving for retirement? A proposed California law may make it easier
Last week, the state Senate passed the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Act and moved it to the Assembly. The law, SB1234, was proposed by Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, and Darrel Steinberg, D-Sacramento and Senate President Pro Tem.
Essentially, this legislation would create a retirement savings program that would be initiated by the government and ran by a private, third-party contractor. This specific policy would guarantee both the principal invested in the program and the interest made on that money. As most people know, the assurance of a returned investment on interest is not something private retirement accounts, such as IRAs and Roth IRAs, guarantee.
But the target demographic of this legislation most likely isn’t aware of that fact. The law is aiming to help private-sector workers who make less than $50,000 a year and don’t have access to a retirement plan at their place of work. Instead of relying simply on Social Security when the time comes, de Leon and Steinberg want to have this supplementary income in place for those who will most likely need it most.
Republicans are opposing the plan due to the fact that California is already dealing with the burden of its own retirement program going bankrupt, and point out that individuals can easily set up an IRA. Even some Democrats are wary, citing the language in the legislation as guaranteeing far too much for account holders. The worry is that, without proper investment regulation and oversight, the money could be mismanaged, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill.
What do you think about this proposed plan for retirement? Should everyone be required to save a little extra for their later years? Would you buy in to such a program? Why or why not?
Guests:
Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), State Senator representing California’s 22nd Senate District, which includes Los Angeles, Alhambra, East Los Angeles, Florence-Graham, Maywood, San Marino, South Pasadena, Vernon, and Walnut Park.
Richard Wiebe, spokesperson for the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies
Coping with problem people, from your boss to your spouse
They may not mean it, but some people are just so difficult. From an offhand shop assistant, sulking co-worker or surly boss, problem people can put us all in a bad mood. In a recent "Psychology Today" article, psychologists suggest that difficult people want to be heard, will always believe they're right and do not respond well to others trying to argue with them. If you do so, a minor issue could escalate to epic proportions in the blink of an eye.
So what to do? Tips include keeping time spent with difficult people to a minimum, focusing the conversation on them and avoiding topics that may get you into trouble. This one applies particularly to spouses and family members.
What issues have you faced with difficult people? How have you dealt with a difficult boss or co-worker? What about yourself; have you ever displayed unreasonable behavior you later regretted? Or perhaps you've been difficult to get your own way? What tactics have you used to cope with problem people?
Guest:
Bill Crawford, Ph.D, Psychologist in private practice based in Houston, Texas and author of "Life from the Top of the Mind," which deals with techniques for dealing with difficult people