Louisiana floods Cajun country to save populated areas. You, who are on the Court, must have a code. The nuts & bolts of country building. Governor Jerry Brown releases a revised budget. This is how Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band rolls.
Southern floods cause tensions to rise
Southern floods cause tensions to rise: Mississippi floodwaters are threatening major cities so army corps of engineers opens the Morganza spillway. Residents know what’s coming, they’re asked to sign a release every year saying they understand the consequences of living in a flood plane. But that doesn’t stop tensions from riding high. Residents say the Army Corp of Engineers is burying the rich to save the poor. And what about the potential environmental impact of releasing hundreds of thousands of gallons of water into the flood plane? Can the acres and acres of farmland survive the deluge? And if so, how long until the area is back to normal?
Guests:
Dr. G. Paul Kemp, Vice President of the National Audubon Society and the Director of the Louisiana Coastal Initiative
Jeff Stout, reporter for the Morgan City Daily Review
You, who are on the Court, must have a code…
Recently, two of our Supreme Court justices have participated in activities that some public interest groups say call into question their impartiality. Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia have attended political events hosted by conservative, billionaire brothers David and Charles Koch, known backers of the Tea Party movement – with travel expenses paid for by groups funded by the Koch brothers. They’ve also allowed their names to be used in partisan fundraising efforts, and Judge Alito has been criticized for speaking at dinners sponsored by the American Spectator, a politically oriented magazine. Last year’s controversial Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which opened the door to greater political contributions by big businesses, was decided by a narrow majority - backed by Thomas and Scalia. The official Code of Conduct for United States judges specifically prohibits such activities, but it doesn’t apply to the highest court in the land. When it comes to ethics, Supreme Court judges are answerable only to themselves. Now, a bill has been introduced into Congress that would require Supreme Court justices to adhere to that code of conduct. The Supreme Court Transparency and Disclosure Act of 2011, authored by Congressman Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), would establish oversight for the court and require clarification of any self-recusals, or refusal to recuse when requested. When it comes to ethics, should SCOTUS be self-regulated? Are our most esteemed justices beyond question of their impartiality? If oversight is needed, who should mind the store?
Guests:
Anthony V. Alfieri, Founding Director of the Center for Ethics and Public Service and Professor of Law at University of Miami School of Law
John Eastman, Former Dean and Professor, Chapman University School of Law; Founding Director, Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence
The nuts & bolts of nation building
It's been four months since Tunisia's Jasmine Revolution toppled the Ben Ali regime. Now an interim government is trying to maintain law & order, but moreover trying to build a brand new government. And they're getting help from a Tunisian-Angeleno. Bechir Blagui created an organization called Free Tunisia. In the early days of the revolution, his social media kept Tunisians in-the-know. Today he's organizing election monitoring for the upcoming vote in July. He says he learned local organizing tactics from Hollywood neighborhood councils. That's why we're featuring Blagui in KPCC’s new video series all about the Arab Spring. The series launches online today. And will be followed up every day this week, with a new video story showing how the so-called Arab Spring is playing out for people in Southern California.
Guest:
Bechir Blagui, Executive Director, Free Tunisia
The governor comes out with a revised budget, but will the bargaining begin?
Budget talks have been stalled for weeks as both sides dug in their heels. Governor Jerry Brown refused to compromise on a key campaign promise to consult voters before raising taxes while republicans insist tax hikes aren’t necessary while major reforms for public sector retirement benefits are. The stakes are getting higher as the state gets closer to having to issue IOUs instead of paying on debts, so today Governor Brown is releasing a revised budget.
Guests:
Holly Mitchell, California State Assembly (D-47), Chairperson of the Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services
Donald Wagner, Republican Assemblyman representing California's 70th district (Irvine); member of the California State Assembly Committee on Budget
Dan Weintraub, Editor of the California Health Report
Allan Mansoor, Assemblyman (R-68) on Budget Committee
Susan Bonilla, California State Assembly (D-11), Chairperson of the Budget Subcomittee on Education and Finance
Jon Fleischman, Republican strategist; founder and publisher of FlashReport.org
This is how Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band rolls
In these days of dwindling music sales, it’s hard to imagine how a band of any size can keep it together. Make that an 18-piece jazz ensemble and it’s nearly incomprehensible. Unless, that is, you’re talking about Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. Goodwin is a GRAMMY-winning composer and arranger, known in Hollywood for his cinematic scoring in such films as The Incredibles, Armageddon, Enemy of State and even the classic cult film Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. He’s a musician’s musician, who has worked with the likes of Ray Charles, Arturo Sandoval, Michael Brecker and Quincy Jones. His West Coast group the Big Phat Band brings together some of L.A.’s finest players like Eric Marienthal, Marcus Miller and Gerald Albright. Goodwin’s Big Phat Band’s latest album “That’s How We Roll,” which hit #1 on the iTunes Jazz Charts, features 10 originals and a daring reinterpretation of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Goodwin rolls into KPCC for an in-studio big-beat chat with Larry.
Guest:
Gordon Goodwin, is a saxophonist, pianist and GRAMMY-winning composer/ arranger; his 18-piece Big Phat Band recently released their sixth recording, That’s How We Roll (Concord Music Group)
Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band presents SMIGLY: