The Supreme Court's decision on the Voting Rights Act is in. We'll talk about what the change to the historic act means for voters. Then we'll discuss President Obama's National Climate Plan and we'll look at LA's move to shut down "bandit cabs." Later, who wins in the Coliseum deal between USC and the Exposition Park museums? And we'll discuss whether or not a degree in the liberal arts is still valuable.
Divided Supreme Court strikes down key part of Voting Rights Act
In a major decision today, the Supreme Court has eliminated an historic tool to prevent discrimination against minority voters. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority in this 5-4 decision, said the provision at issue in the Act is outdated and overly burdensome. It requires certain local governments (including four in California) to get the okay from the federal government before changing voting laws, such as polling locations and times.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, speaking for the dissent today, said "Hubris is a fit word for today's demolition of the law" and added that the Act is the best remedy for discrimination. Will Congress take up the issue? What are recent instances of voter discrimination and what would remedy them?
Guests:
James (Jim) Burling, Director of Litigation, Pacific Legal Foundation; PLF filed an amicus brief on the Shelby case; Founded in 1973, PLF is a public interest legal organization dedicated to limited government principles
Dale Ho, Managing Attorney, Voting Rights Project, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); his work includes litigation under the Voting Rights Act; combating barriers to voter registration and ballot access; (double-checking: ACLU filed an amicus brief on the Shelby case.
Debating President Obama's national climate plan
President Obama will deliver a major climate change proposal today at Georgetown University that will significantly curb carbon emission on coal-fired power plants and boost wind and solar energy production on federal lands.
The plan does not come with a timetable for the power plant rules and puts the Environment Protection Agency in charge to enact the changes. The Obama administration will provide up to $8 billion in loan guarantees to encourage clean tech innovation. Opponents of the plan charge that it would drive electricity prices up and hurt the businesses and slow job creation.
Guests:
Bob Inglis, Executive Director, Energy and Enterprise Intitiative, George Mason University; while a Republican Congressman (1993-98, 2005-10) for South Carolina, Inglis served on the House Science Committee and the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee.
Bob Deans, Director of Federal Communications, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
LA authorities side with taxis, move to shut down 'bandit cabs' (Poll)
On Monday the L.A. Department of Transportation sent cease-and-desist letters to three popular car-for-hire companies: Uber, Lyft and Sidecar. The companies are charged with using unlicensed drivers and not obtaining the necessary permits to operate.
The three car-for-hire services use mobile applications to connect patrons to drivers in their area, and though Uber does dispatch some professionally licensed drivers, all three companies connect patrons to casual, unlicensed drivers.
"Our response is that though the City of LA regulates taxis in Los Angeles, for-hire transportation is regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission," said Travis Kalanick, Founder and CEO of Uber. "We have a signed letter, an agreement with the state of California, stating that everything we're doing is legal and lays out the requirements to make sure all transportation providers that we connect individuals and citizens to is safe."
Last November the companies were cited by the California Public Utilities Commission for public safety concerns associated with not providing insurance and liability coverage. But all three companies eventually reached agreements to keep operating.
Monday’s cease-and-desist letters are a new move from L.A. transit authorities to curb operation by these companies, and it shows that authorities are backing traditional taxi companies, who have struggled with the new competition. Those companies, like L.A. Yellow Cab, call the newcomers “bandit cabs” who bypass safety regulations.
"The question is are these vehicles operate like taxi cabs, and if they do, then they fall under the city of LA regulations," Said Bill Rouse, General Manager of Los Angeles Yellow Cab. "Even though it operates by GPS, it acts in exactly the same functionality as a taxi meter. A taxicab is any vehicle for hire that uses a taxi meter. It doesn't have to say the word taxi on it."
Do traditional taxi companies have a point? Are Uber, Lyft and Sidecar services unsafe and uninsured? Is this really a safety issue, or just a matter of protecting big taxi companies from serious competition?
Guests:
Bill Rouse, General Manager of Los Angeles Yellow Cab and President of the Taxicab, Limousine and Paratransit Association
Travis Kalanick, Founder and CEO of Uber, one of the three car-for-hire companies targeted by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation.
Taxi Apps Cease and Desist Letter
Who wins in a deal between USC and the California Science Center?
The California Science Center’s governing board is expected to vote tomorrow on a 98-year-lease deal that would give USC control of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC would have control over the majority of the parking garage for football games and other events held at the coliseum.
The school would also get the money from the parking that currently goes to the Science Center and the African American History Museum. The new lease would replace a 25-year deal USC signed in 2008. It has been modified from previous versions, but some Science Center trustees say the museums in Exposition Park will still be hurt by the terms of the deal.
Is this lease more beneficial for USC than the California Science Center?
Guest:
Marvin Holen, Trustee, California Science Center Foundation; and a practicing attorney
Zev Yaroslavsky, L.A. County Supervisor, 3rd District, which covers Malibu, Hollywood, and parts of the San Fernando Valley
How relevant is a liberal arts degree?
A liberal arts education used to be the cornerstone of universities but an increasing push towards engineering, business and science degrees is putting the classic liberal arts degree in jeopardy. Low enrollment in the humanities, even in institutions like Harvard, is causing concern that too many students are abandoning liberal arts. A new report presented on Capitol Hill last week by the Commission on the Humanities & Social Sciences last week has called for a new national corps of "master teachers" trained in humanities and social sciences and increased support for liberal arts degrees.
Are degrees such as political science, English and humanities still relevant to today's workforce? Do fields including law, business and medicine benefit from having students with liberal arts backgrounds? Should the White House be pushing investment into science degrees and leaving the liberal arts behind?
Guests:
James Cuno, President and CEO of J. Paul Getty Trust. And a member of the Commission on the Humanities & Social Sciences, which prepared the report.
Richard Vedder, the director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity and Professor of Economics at Ohio University