In DC, the State of the Union; in CA, High-Speed Rail, Medical Marijuana
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President Obama's pushing for rapid rail, and California will get the biggest share of the money. Will it come close to building a line from Anaheim to San Francisco? Also, after four and a half years of debate, the Los Angeles City Council has failed to satisfy either side in the argument over medical marijuana. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, during last night's State of the Union Address, President Obama admitted mistakes while defending his first year in office. What does he want for the future? What is he likely to get? We sample opinions.
Banner image: Members of Congress, the Cabinet, and Supreme Court applaud as President Barack Obama enters the House Chamber to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. Official White House photo: Pete Souza
Main Topic
State of the Union: 'We Don't Quit...I Don't Quit' ()
Barack Obama's first State of the Union address touched on many subjects in more than an hour of prime time TV. But the principal focus was the economy.
Guests:
- Ryan Lizza: Washington Correspondent, The New Yorker, @RyanLizza
- Christopher Hayes: Washington Editor, The Nation
- William Galston: Deputy Assistant for Domestic Policy, then-President Clinton
- Matthew Continetti: Associate Editor, Weekly Standard
- Douglas Brinkley: Professor of History, Rice University
Links:
Making News
California Gets Big Money for High-Speed Rail ()
In his State of the Union address last night, President Obama announced an $8 billion high-speed rail initiative, and California will get the largest piece, $2.25 billion. In Tampa, Florida today, he reiterated his intention, which could prove important for the future of transportation in California. "There's no reason why other countries can build high-speed rail lines and we can't."
Guests:
- Quentin Kopp: Chairman, California High Speed Rail Authority Board
- Yonah Freemark: Blogger, 'The Transport Politic'
Links:
Main Topic
LA Finally Has a Marijuana Ordinance, but Story Is Far from Over ()
San Francisco charges fees to dispensaries of medical marijuana. Voters in Oakland have approved a tax on sales. In both cities, increased regulation has kept the number of dispensaries small. But in Los Angeles, while the City Council wrangled for four and a half years, there was no regulation and hundreds of dispensaries have cropped up all over town. Just this week, an ordinance finally received Council approval.
Guests:
- Jane Usher: Special Assistant City Attorney, City of Los Angeles
- Joe Elferd: Chief Counsel, Americans for Safe Access
- Judy Muller: Contributing Correspondent, KCET's 'SoCal Connected'
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Underwriters
Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.
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