Major players in California's insurance game are much involved in this year's elections. Insurance Commissioner Steve Poisner is running for Governor. The Mercury Insurance Group is backing Proposition 17. Now there's a confrontation provoking the question, where do the politics begin and end? Also, the DWP, water main breaks and conservation. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, Russia's Medvedev calls Obama's nuclear summit a "complete success," but adds, "I hope we won't just go home feeling happy." What will it take to sustain agreements to "lock down" nuclear materials? Is the threat of nuclear terrorism overblown?
Aftermath of the Nuclear Summit; The Politics of Insurance
Insurance Commissioner Steve Poisner has sued the Mercury Insurance Group, which says there are "politics involved." That could mean Poisner's candidacy for governor or Mercury's backing of Prop 17 on the June ballot. What will it all mean for consumers? Also, the DWP, water main breaks and conservation. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, Russia's Medvedev calls Obama's nuclear summit a "complete success," but adds, "I hope we won't just go home feeling happy."
FROM THIS EPISODE
Main Topic
Will the Nuclear Summit Make Us Safer?
27 MIN, 55 SEC
Nobody knows how likely it is that some terrorist group could set off a nuclear weapon, but the consequences are so catastrophic that even a small chance justifies urgent action to reduce the risk. That was the idea behind President Obama's nuclear summit.
Guests:
Matthew Bunn, Principal Investigator, Harvard University's Project on Managing the Atom
Benn Tannenbaum, Program Director, American Association for the Advancement of Science's Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy
John Mueller, Professor of Political Science, Ohio State University
Barbara Slavin, Atlantic Council / Al-Monitor (@barbaraslavin1)
Barbara Slavin
Making News
DWP's Water Conservation Plan Causes Pipes to Burst
5 MIN, 24 SEC
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said today that February saw the lowest use of water in 31 years. At the same time, a blue ribbon panel of scientists said that last year's disruptive breaks in water mains were caused, in part, by the agency's water conservation policies. Jean Pierre Bardet, Chair of USC's Department of Civic and Environmental Engineering, headed the panel, which was appointed by Mayor Villaraigosa.
Guests:
Jean-Pierre Bardet, Urban Water Institute at the University of Texas at Arlington
Main Topic
The Politics of California Car Insurance
19 MIN, 39 SEC
State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner says the Mercury Insurance Group has illegally denied auto coverage to bartenders, liquor-store owners, cocktail servers and artists by using standards it doesn't apply to people in other professions. He also claims that Mercury has failed to correct other violations going back more than ten years. The company could face millions of dollars in fines if it doesn't correct each violation in ten days.
Guests:
Darrel Ng, Press Secretary, California Department of Insurance
Coby King, Spokesperson, HMS Host
Harvey Rosenfield, Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (@HarveRosenfield)
Mike D’Arelli, Executive Director, Alliance of Insurance Agents and Brokers
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