Today on AirTalk we'll go over the bills sitting on Governor Brown's desk, analyze the California Democratic Party chairman's remarks about the GOP presidential campaign and remember songwriter and lyricist Hal David. We'll also look at how the Tampa Bay Police Department was so effective in handling protesters at the RNC, consider whether or not electronics should be banned from use on airplanes and see how same-sex couples deal with the inevitable "baby question."
Pension reform and other bills on the Governor’s desk
Last Friday, the California Assembly and Senate approved legislation encompassing sweeping changes to public pension programs. The bill is now on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk, where it will almost assuredly be approved.
The content of the bill represents a series of compromises between Governor Jerry Brown and Democrats in the legislature, a fact Republicans aren’t very happy about. They claim that the pension reform package is simply a watered-down version of Brown’s original proposal, and it doesn’t go far enough to make significant changes to the troubled program.
"I believe that this was a very robust pension reform package," Senator Daryl Steinberg told AirTalk. "We rolled back formulas for new employees, we raised the retirement ages for new employees, we capped pensionable income for new employees, then for current employees we insisted and the law reflects that over the next 5 years they contribute 50 percent of their pensions."
Supporters point to the fact that the changes should save California upwards of $60 billion over the next three decades, but that’s admittedly a minor dent in the $164 billion needed in funds.
The bill will raise the retirement age for most public employees and place a cap on payout amounts. Current workers will not be affected, but any new hires after January 1st, 2013 would be subject to these new conditions.
"Once employees start work they have a Constitutional and contractual right to the formula that they entered, the formula that they had when they entered the public service," said Steinberg.
There are a number of obstacles in the way, however, including workers' unions who think these new changes amount to denying public workers of rights.
"We made it possible for cities and counties to say 'we can increase the amount that employees have to contribute to their pensions.' They didn't have the right before they were given that right." said KPCC reporter Julie Small. "Unions see this as things that were bargained before are being taken off of the bargaining table … you must contribute half, and that's pretty significant."
But Governor Brown's signature doesn't write these pension reforms into stone, according to Sacramento Bee reporter Dan Walters. "Number one, you can undermine this very easily from a financial standpoint by adjusting salaries, and number two, its all on statute, it's not in the constitution, which means it can be repealed the day after the election."
Weigh In:
Several other bills have been approved by the legislature and await the Governor’s signature or veto. Will he approve a new tax on timber that comes from outside California? What about the bill which overhauls workers’ compensation? What issues are you primarily concerned with?
Guests:
Darrell Steinberg, President Pro Tem of State Senate, California State Senator, D-6th District (most of Sacramento County)
Mimi Walters, California State Senator, R-33rd District (Orange, Tustin, Mission Viejo areas)
Julie Small, KPCC’s capitol reporter
Dan Walters, political columnist for The Sacramento Bee
Chairman of the California Democrats compares GOP to Nazis
Yesterday, the chairman of the California Democratic Party made waves with his remarks about the GOP presidential campaign. John Burton likened the Republican strategy to that of the “big lie,” a tactic used by Nazis (most famously Joseph Goebbels) which relies on the repetition of false information on a large scale until it is accepted as true by a majority of the public.
As expected, the GOP blasted Burton for his remarks and called for an apology. Burton acquiesced, but made sure to mention that he never used the word “Nazi” in his remarks. Previously at the Democratic National Convention, Burton has now flown home to California for a previously scheduled root canal.
Which is going to end up giving Burton, and Democrats, the bigger headache? Is such a comparison as this completely off-limits? What’s the difference between an untruth and a lie? Is this simply an exaggeration we should come to accept in modern politics?
Guest:
Dan Schnur, Director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at USC; longtime political strategist
Remembering songwriter Hal David
Hal David, famed and award-winning composer and lyricist, passed away Saturday at the age of 91 after suffering a stroke. Known for many of his hits, like “What’s New Pussycat?,” “Wishin’ and Hopin’,” and “Close to You,” David was best known for his work with his long-time songwriting partner, Burt Bacharach. The duo penned hits for Dionne Warwick throughout her career. “I Say a Little Prayer” was the most successful of the dozens of songs they wrote together, but other songs like “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” and “Message to Michael” were very popular and remain well-known additions to pop music. Share your memories with AirTalk. What does Hal David’s music mean to you?
Guest:
Kent Hartman, author of "The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret" (Thomas Dunn Books)
Tampa’s assistant police chief avoids conflict with protesters by talking – would his tactics work in larger, more volatile protest situations?
As the Democratic Convention gets underway in Charlotte, law enforcement braces for the security challenges of tens of thousands of delegates, guests, politicians and protesters. Convention organizers must be anxious to repeat Tampa’s success.
Officials there are pleased with their RNC performance – only two convention-related arrests in a week of Republican business and many planned protests. It wasn’t just the rain, either. The Tampa Police Department is pointing to the master negotiation skills of assistant chief John Bennett. He sat with protesters, brought them food and water, and facilitated a wider protest zone, without posing risk to GOP security.
What tactics did he find especially effective? How can other police forces emulate the success? And what about normal protest settings, when the National Guard and Secret Service aren’t also at the ready?
Guest:
John Bennett, Assistant Police Chief, Tampa Police Department
Flyers might be allowed to cool cabin fever with their electronics
Eight miles high, and nothing to do but flip through the SkyMall catalogue. Many travelers have felt frustrated by the ban on iPods and other devices on airplanes. Ever wonder why some electronics are permitted, while others are verboten? Is it really a safety issue? Can your iPad or Kindle really interfere with an airplane’s instruments or air traffic control communications?
Take heart, the laundry list of rules and regulations could possibly shrink soon as the FAA prepares to review its in-flight electronics policy. If the review does find the policy can be loosened, or even abolished, how will airlines possibly ensure that passengers use their devices correctly?
Guest:
Dwight Silverman, technology blogger for the Houston Chronicle
Captain Ross “Rusty” Aimer, Aviation Safety Specialist, Aero Consulting Experts; former United Airlines captain
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes…the baby question
With marriage equality comes “invasive personal question” equality. New brides and grooms have faced it for generations, now it’s grooms and grooms (or brides and brides) who have to put on a cheery face in response to the query “When are you planning to have children?”
It’s a thoroughly modern dilemma; committed same-sex couples of past generations could hardly hope to start a family together. For most, it was never an option. Now, adoption and surrogacy have made gay parenting nearly as mainstream as gay marriage – and thus, the ubiquitous question. Family and friends may mean well, but it’s far from a casual decision.
And the same issues faced by heterosexual couples apply. One spouse may not see themselves as a parent, while the other longs to fill the nest and puree organic baby food. Financial worries and career plans may complicate the issue. And what about the changes a child can bring to a relationship?
Nevertheless, more and more gay couples are feeling the pressure from parents who want grandchildren and couple-friends who can’t wait to bond over toilet training.
Are you in a same-sex marriage, yet ambivalent about parenting? Are you thinking of starting a family – sometime – and fed up with the questioning? How do you and your partner handle what might seem like over-attention to your procreation plans?