CA Democrats propose a budget. Should parents curb drinking for their kids’ sakes? Debate over FDA breast cancer drug Avastin. "The Optimism Bias: A tour of the Irrationally Positive Brain."
California budget proposal hinges on $4-billion in revenue
The California Legislature is set to vote on a budget this afternoon, which Governor Brown says he’ll sign. The deal sidesteps Republican support and relies on $4-billion in newly projected revenue. Brown said he’ll allow more than $9-billion in taxes and fees to expire Thursday, because he couldn’t muster enough Republican support. But if the revenue the state is counting on doesn’t materialize – the budget will trigger deep cuts to education and public safety later in the year. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are still fighting over the details. Democratic Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg says it’s not the budget his party wanted, but Republicans’ unwillingness to govern gave them little choice. Senate Minority Leader Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga) said in a statement “This latest budget is based on the hope that $4 billion in new revenues will miraculously materialize but does absolutely nothing to change government as usual.” Assembly Minority Leader Connie Conway says she doesn’t mind the potential “triggering” of cuts. But says it’s “disrespectful” to taxpayers that Dems aren’t looking at any other way to balance the budget. Will this austere budget be enough to close the state’s remaining $9.6-billion deficit? Will Brown pursue an initiative to ask voters to approve new taxes in the future?
Guests:
Julie Small, KPCC Sacramento Reporter
Jim Neilsen, California State Assemblyman, (R-2) Vice-Chair, Assembly Budget Committee. District 2: northern CA, Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yolo counties
Bob Blumenfield, California State Assemblyman, (D-40) Chair, Assembly Budget Committee. District 40: San Fernando Valley
H.D. Palmer, Deputy Director of External Affairs, California Department of Finance
Should parents curb drinking for their kids’ sakes?
Have you been using your mini bar lately? Parents beware: you may want to think twice about drinking in front of your teenage kids. According to a new British study, teens who see their parents drunk are twice as likely to develop drinking habits. Half of the 5,500 British teens who were asked about their use of alcohol and motivation to drink said they had been drunk by the age of 16. (The legal drinking age in the UK is 18.) In addition to seeing parents drink, peer pressure has a significant influence on kids and their relationship with alcohol. The likelihood of a teenager drinking to excess more than doubles if he or she spends two evenings a week hanging out with friends. Do you drink in front of your children? Have they seen you drunk? How do you talk to your children about the risks of heavy drinking?
F.D.A. holds unprecedented hearing to reconsider breast cancer drug
In 2008, the Food and Drug Administration green-lit the drug Avastin as a last-ditch hope for women with incurable metastatic breast cancer. Avastin had already proved helpful for some patients with advanced colon, lung, brain and kidney cancers. Then late last year, an F.D.A. advisory panel voted 12-1 to revoke Avastin’s indication for breast cancer treatment. New studies could not prove it extended life for patients. Moreover, it had potentially toxic side effects and high costs. Oncologists and some patients welcomed the decision, while others desperately disagree. Reportedly, up to 18,000 women still swear by Avastin, but if the F.D.A. goes forward with revoking its approval, insurance companies won't pay for the pricey treatment. Should the F.D.A. pull approval for a drug that doesn't work for all, but might extend life for some? What's the margin? How many people does a drug have to help? Is there any such thing as an "average" cancer patient -- considering the infinite stages and mutations of the disease? Or are philosophical arguments undermining scientific data?
Guests:
Terrance Kalley, Founder of Freedom of Access to Medicines, established to fight the FDA’s Avastin decision; Mr. Kalley’s wife uses Avastin
Dr. Gary Lyman, Served on the FDA advisory panel that voted 12-1 to revoke Avastin’s approval; practicing Breast Cancer Oncologist; Professor of Medicine and Director, Comparative Effectiveness and Outcomes Research, Duke University School of Medicine and the Duke Cancer Institute
Senior Fellow, Duke Center for Clinical Health Policy Research
Gregory Conko, Senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute; Conko’s research focuses on pharmaceutical and food safety regulation
Looking forward to it
Is the glass half empty, or half full? According to neuroscientist Tali Sharot, our brains might be hardwired to go with the latter. In her new book, The Optimism Bias: A Tour of the Irrationally Positive Brain, Sharot explains how and why human beings are relentlessly positive in light of dire circumstances by drawing upon traditional psychological studies and brain imaging. The author also explores the seeming paradox of how humans can display pessimism regarding collective issues such as the economy, but cannot do the same concerning personal goals or plans. How did such a rosy outlook evolve as a survival trait? Is being optimistic a good or a bad thing? Do you consider yourself to be optimistic?
Guest:
Tali Sharot, author of The Optimism Bias: A tour of the Irrationally Positive Brain and research fellow at the Wellcome Trust Center for Neuroimaging at University College London