The administrations budget proposal would mean big cuts for Calif. Lawmakers mull health care alternatives, and consider limited the autonomy of UC Regents.
Breaking down the 2018 budget proposal's effect in California
In the 8:00 A.M. hour, on Tuesday morning, a big, fat proposed Federal budget was officially released. It includes lots of cuts in social services and programs for the poor.
Here's White House budget director Mick Mulvaney.
"We're trying to focus on both the recipients of the money and the folks who give us the money in the first place and I think it's fairly compassionate to go to them and say, 'Look we're not going to ask you for your hard earned money anymore, unless we can guarantee to you that that money's actually being used in a proper function.' And I think that is about as compassionate as you can get."
What might this mean for us here in California? Politico's David Siders pointed out some key highlights.
Will this be tough for everyone?
"This will be tough going for everyone but in one main way California, especially in the social safety net cuts...that's because the rate of impoverished people here when adjusted for the cost of living is highest in the nation."
What part of the social safety net will be focused on the most?
"Well, I think that Medicaid cuts are going to be huge and talked about, especially in California. So, this state embraced it fully if cuts are enacted, depending on how severely you could be looking at close to $20 billion dollars a year in increased cost in California or millions more people on the uninsured role. And that pushes into other sectors of the economy and programs as well.
You look at everything, I think foreign subsidies and other states will be a big thing where you'll get pushback and then federal student aid, food stamps, social security disability...these are the hot-button issues that always get talked about..."
Is the state in a position to pick up some of the slack from EPA cuts?
"Yeah. I think better than most states it is. California leads the nation in a lot of these environmental programs and is served as a model for others and they also have significant buy-in not only from lawmakers in Sacramento but from the public if you look at recent polling. Voters here want the state to do its own thing on climate.
And there's some reasonable evidence from past voter initiatives that Californians are willing to pay a little bit for that. How much is unclear, but willing to pay something...California is in a position to at least work its own programs to the extent that it's allowed to by courts in which there will inevitably be fights with the federal government."
To listen to the full segment, click the blue play button above.
LA's Jewish community reacts to President Trump's Israel visit
President Trump wrapped up the Middle East part of his first foreign trip Tuesday with a speech at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, where he told Israelis and Palestinians he's committed to brokering peace. Trump has called Israeli-Palestinian peace "one of the toughest deals of all" but also "not as difficult as people have thought."
But many in the Jewish community remain skeptical. Rabbi Sharon Brous is founder of the IKAR, a Jewish community redefining modern Judaism. While a quarter of the nation's Jews voted for Trump in the November election, Brous says their confidence in the president has yet to be earned. She says their undeserved belief that Trump has Israel's interests at heart likely stems from the president's Jewish business ties as well as his close relationship with son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner.
Tough odds against proposal for single payer health insurance in California
California lawmakers weren't waiting for today's proposed Federal budget.
They have been working for months to try and figure out how the state could provide health insurance to its citizens if Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act and cuts back important programs like Medicare.
The most talked-about plan is also the most ambitious. It would provide health insurance for almost all Californians through a single program. Thus, it's a single payer system.
A bill to set up such a plan is getting the full legislative work-up. But before it ever gets to a floor vote, there are a lot of hurdles ahead, not the least of which is the enormous cost of setting up and maintaining such a system. The latest estimate for that, just out this week, is somewhere around $400 billion. That's more than twice the annual state budget.
Our health reporter Michelle Faust has been following this story, as it plays out in both Washinton and Sacramento.
Click on the blue bar to hear the full interview with Michelle.
Amendment would let state lawmakers oversee the UC system
The leaders of the UC system have been able to do their work independently from Sacramento lawmakers for 138 years.
But a new amendment by State Senator Ed Hernandez would change that and give the legislature direct control over the UC system.
Sen. Hernandez joins Take Two to argue that it would better serve California's higher education students.
Listen to the conversation by using the blue audio player above.
Tuesday Reviewsday: Jazzmeia Horn makes her mark on modern jazz
Tuesday Reviewsday is our weekly new music segment, and this week Morgan Rhodes join A Martinez to talk about the latest releases.
Morgan starts us out talking about the new jazz phenom, Jazzmeia Horn.
Here she is talking about her album, A Social Call:
artist: Jarami
album: Sketches EP
Production dynamic duo Jarami have stepped from the shadows and dropped an EP of instrumental fire. Known for their production work with Frank Ocean and other major acts, this is their introduction to those who might not know them.
Nick Hakim
album: Green Twins
Three years after his self released breakout releases "Where Will We Go Pts 1 & 2", Nick Hakim is back after a move across the east coast and some time spent making magic in his bedroom. Green Twins is his latest experimental soul effort and it is dreamy.
Here's the video for one of the songs we heard, Roller Skates.