Senate Democrats voted today to invoke the so-called "nuclear option" to change the longstanding rules for executive appointments. Then, L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz looks to raise the number of cats residents can keep in their home. Next, music publishers are going after websites that display lyrics. Also, we discuss how and why $14 billion in child support was left unpaid in the U.S. in a single year. Then, a rundown of the L.A. sights to keep your out-of-town holiday guests happy and a look at JFK's Senate career with author John T. Shaw.
Senate Dems pull trigger on 'nuclear option'
It’s third time’s the charm when it comes to Senate Democrats’ threats to exercise the so-called “nuclear option.” Led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), the Democratically controlled Senate threw out the filibuster rules that have been in place for over two centuries for most presidential confirmations.
The vote was decided along party lines. Under the historic change, confirmation of federal judge nominees and executive-office appointments would only require a simple majority of votes, instead of a 60-vote super majority. The revision won’t apply to Supreme Court nominations.
Guest:
Lisa Mascaro, Congressional Reporter at the Los Angeles Times
Julian Zelizer, Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton University and the author of multiple books on U.S. political history, including On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences, 1948-2000 (Cambridge University Press, 2004)
How many cats is too many? (Poll)
Los Angeles cat lovers may soon be allowed to own even more of their furry friends.
Under current regulations, pet owners in Los Angeles are only allowed to care for three cats in their home at any one time. Anyone who wants to cuddle more kitties has to apply for a kennel permit.
But a motion submitted by Councilman Paul Koretz would raise that limit to five. He says that raising the limit on cat ownership would get more abandoned animals off the streets and out of shelters since the people most likely to adopt a cat are already cat owners. The motion cited the 'three cat' limit as one of the key barriers to reducing the number of strays in the city.
Critics argue that the proposal should include requirements to spay or neuter the cats and they should be micro-chipped.
Should there be a limit on the number of cats you can own? What are the risks of having too many animals? Are there health concerns for the pets?
KPCC's online polls are not scientific surveys of local or national opinion. Rather, they are designed as a way for our audience members to engage with each other and share their views. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page, facebook.com/kpcc, or in the comments below.
Guests:
Councilman Paul Koretz, council district 5 covering Bel Air, Century City, Westwood through Encino
Brenda Barnette, general manager of Los Angeles Animal Services
Music publishers want websites to stop posting song lyrics
The National Music Publishers’ Association, a trade group for music publishers and songwriters, has recently sent out takedown notices to some 50 sites that post song lyrics online for copyright infringement.
One of the sites embroiled in the legal battle is Rap Genius, which doesn't just post hip-hop lyrics but invite fans to annotate them, to add backstories and cultural references particular lines in a song might signify.
The site is so popular its frequent contributors include famous rappers and last year, it allegedly secured $15 million in funding from a venture capital group. Fans say Rap Genius shouldn’t be lumped together with other lyrics sites given it provides a value-added service and that instead of exploiting songwriters, it helps fans connect to their work in more intimate ways.
But critics points to its fundraising success as evidence that Rap Genius is financially benefiting from other people’s intellectual property.
Is Rap Genius different from other lyrics sites? Does it hurt artists or encourage fandom?
Guests:
Illan Zechory, co-founder of Rap Genius
David Israelite, President and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association
$14 billion in child support left unpaid
Only one out of every three child support dollars is being paid, according to new figures from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. While millions of parents are entitled to financial support for their kids, less than half are receiving the full amount owed; a quarter receive none. Consistent underpayment has impacted lower income households in particular.
Help is available to these parents, but the number who seek government assistance to get the money they're entitled to fell by a quarter between 1994 and 2012. Instead, many families operate outside of the child support system, with payees contributing to clothes, food and other essentials on an ad-hoc basis.
Do you pay child support? What challenges have you had in meeting your financial obligation? Have you sought help to reduce your payment but had difficulty doing so? And if you’re on the other end, how has underpayment or non-payment of child support impacted you?
Guests:
Paul Nathan, Law offices of Paul Nathan (based in San Francisco); Nathan focuses on family law for women clients
Alan-Michael Graves, Director of Project Fatherhood, a nationally recognized program serving urban, low income fathers (based in Los Angeles)
Heads up holiday hosts: Top tips for Tinseltown tourists
Angelenos are lucky to live in a top-shelf destination city, so there is no excuse for not drafting a dazzling itinerary for your holiday guests. Not only has KPCC mapped top destinations and widgets, but the Los Angeles Tourism board has a life-saver of a web site for all things L.A.
For instance, if your favorite uncle who's flying in happens to be a sports fan, why not give him the Magic Johnson tour. Magic will take you from a high-energy workout at North Hollywood's Body Theory Fitness Center, to refuel at Yang Chow in Chinatown, then naturally cap the evening at a Lakers game.
If your foodie-sister is coming to town, try the Hungry Girls guide that sweeps through delicious offerings from San Gabriel Valley to the San Fernando Valley. (Be sure to check out itineraries by Aziz Ansari, Tony Hawk, and Rob Lowe, too.)
RELATED: Where to take out of town visitors: 15 mini-trips for tourists in LA
Even if you want to play tourist every day of the week, the events pages will keep your calendar booked to infinite.
What are your top destinations when your parents visit? Do you like planning tours specific to your guest, or taking them on new adventures? As a local, have you visited all the top spots?
If we missed a good one, or you have another tip to share, please let us know on our Facebook page, on Twitter ("@" mention
) or in the comments below!
TIPS FOR TOURISTS:
- Don't go to Hollywood or Sunset Boulevard during the day. Go to the beach during the day and the Boulevards at night. —Omar Masry
- Be patient with traffic. —Ed Kociela
- Say "like" like, always. —Luis Aranda IV
- Expect to pay for parking everywhere. Find a central location, and walk as much as possible. You'll soak in more local flavors (and smog) by walking around as opposed to being tucked away in the shell of a car from point A to point B all day. —John Araujo
- Learn to travel around the city during the off-hours. —Sabba Rahbar
- Plan ahead. There is a lot to see, but places are usually far from each other. So it's good to maximize your time by looking at a map to get a feel for distances. —Veronica Peinado
- Avoid tourist traps like Ripleys and focus on the real Hollywood history. —Brett Padelford
- Take the Metro. (Plan your trip here.) —Elson Trinidad
CHECKLIST:
Native Angeleno Will Coley created this printable checklist to help out-of-towners discover the city. "I don't think L.A. is very good at marketing itself. You have to discover L.A. yourself," Coley said.
TIPS FOR TOURISTS:
Checklist: Where to take tourists
MAP WITH EVEN MORE SPOTS:
Map created by Nuran Alteir.
Guest:
Susan Lomax, Vice President, Communications, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board - which runs the tremendously helpful LA events and tourism site DiscoverLosAngeles.com
Before the White House, there was ‘JFK in the Senate’
Before John F. Kennedy became one of the most famous residents of the White House he spent his formative political years as the senator from Massachusetts. Connections Kennedy made on a special Senate panel to identify the five greatest senators in American history helped seal his path to the presidency.
On the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's tragic death, a new book by author and historian John T. Shaw sheds light on the years Kennedy spent in Congress and explores how his time representing his home state of Massachusetts eventually led him to the White House.
Guest:
John T. Shaw, senior correspondent and vice president for Market News International and a contributing writer for the Washington Diplomat.