The state of the California budget. McCourts reach divorce settlement. The man in the grey flannel skirt – cross-dressing in the workplace? FilmWeek: KPCC film critics Henry Sheehan and Lael Loewenstein join Larry to review the week’s new film releases including Green Lantern, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Art of Getting By, Road to Nowhere and more. TGI-FilmWeek! The hearts of horses: Buck Brannaman, the real-life horse whisperer.
Brown bashes & vetoes budget - so do California lawmakers get paid?
California legislators passed the budget on Wednesday, just before the constitutional deadline. That means they fulfilled the legal requirements set out by Proposition 25, a ballot measure approved last November by California voters that stipulates that lawmakers must pass a balanced budget on time or risk losing their salary. The state budget, cobbled together by Democrats with no Republican votes in favor, relies on one-time revenue streams and temporary gimmicks to achieve balance. But Governor Brown vetoed it yesterday saying it didn't go far enough, would have added billions of dollars of new debt and relied on legally questionable maneuvers. So, what’s next? Do Dems have another plan? How do Republicans, who were ostensibly left out of the process, feel about the budget’s passage and the Governor’s veto? And will lawmakers get paid?
Guests:
Bob Dutton, California State Senator representing the 31st district (Rancho Cucamunga), leads the Republican Senate Caucus in the California Legislature.
John Chiang, California State Controller
McCourts reach divorce settlement
Frank and Jamie McCourt are before a judge this morning going over their divorce settlement. The couple has reached a deal, but whether or not Frank McCourt will retain ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers is now contingent on two further decisions. Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig will have to approve a television contract between the Dodgers and Fox Television. If Selig rejects it, the divorce settlement will be void. Second, the divorce judge will have to decide whether the Dodgers belong solely to Frank or to the couple as equal property. The details are messy, but that is consistent with this fight since the couple announced their separation back in October 2009. What move will Selig make? Why has Jamie agreed to these terms?
Guests:
Molly Knight, Contributing Writer, ESPN The Magazine
Bill Shaikin, Baseball Writer, Los Angeles Times
The man in the grey flannel skirt – cross-dressing in the workplace?
Many businesses, especially those that involve public interaction, have dress codes that prohibit inappropriate attire. Recently we’ve seen challenges to dress codes that restrict religious freedom or are otherwise discriminatory. But what about freedom of gender expression? Should those who identify as transgender or transsexual be allowed to cross-dress at their place of employment if they choose? California Assembly Bill 887, the Gender Nondiscrimination Act, aims to strengthen civil rights protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens; one of those rights would be the right to dress as the opposite gender in the workplace. How would you feel being helped by a salesperson or clerk dressed in drag? Would it affect where you do business? What about the teacher at your child’s day-care center, the receptionist at your doctor’s office, the worker in the next cubicle? What about you – would you welcome the chance to express the real you in your work wardrobe?
Guest:
Toni Atkins (F), California Democratic Assemblywoman from the 76th District which includes Clairemont, Bay Park, Pacific Beach, Ocean Beach, Point Loma, Tierrasanta, Serra Mesa, Hillcrest, University Heights, North Park, South Park, Linda Vista, Mission Valley, City Heights, Old Town, Normal Heights, Mission Hills and Downtown San Diego.
FilmWeek: Green Lantern, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Art of Getting By and more
KPCC film critics Henry Sheehan and Lael Loewenstein join Larry to review the week’s new film releases including Green Lantern, Mr. Popper's Penguins, The Art of Getting By and more. TGI-FilmWeek!
Guests:
Henry Sheehan, film critic for KPCC and henrysheehan.com Lael Loewenstein, film critic for KPCC and Variety
Live tweeting this week's reviews:
Touching the hearts of horses
The real-life horse whisperer who inspired the 1998 fictional movie “The Horse Whisperer” starring Robert Redford is now the star of his own documentary that follows the life of the cowboy-philosopher Buck Brannaman. The movie was directed by Cindy Meehl, who shot 300 hours of film following the horse tamer as he works his magic with horses and their owners. Brannaman was raised in Idaho, suffered abuse at hands of his father and ended up in foster care. “The young Buck found solace in horses, and training them became his calling.” The film won the Documentary Audience Award at Sundance this year.
Guests:
Buck Brannaman, horse trainer featured in the documentary Buck
Cindy Meehl, director of the documentary film Buck