State Assemblywoman (D-Long Beach)
Freshman Democratic Assemblywoman representing the 54th District in Long Beach, California
PROFILE
Bonnie Lowenthal
Guest
FROM Bonnie Lowenthal
Which Way, L.A.?
The 'Big Five' Make a Deal: A Painful Budget in Sacramento The Governor and four legislative leaders have reached agreement on how to make up California's $26 billion shortfall. The deal calls for $15 billion in cuts, taking almost $4 billion from local governments and speeding up tax collections. Now legislators of both parties have to decide whether to support or oppose it. Democrats have the majority in both houses, but not enough to provide the necessary two-thirds for passage, so Republican votes will be required.
Which Way, L.A.?
Freshman Legislators Meet Gridlock in Sacramento In Sacramento yesterday, California's top four finance officials — appointed and elected — addressed a special session of the Assembly and Senate. They were unanimous: act now or the state will run out of money. Legislators listened, but did they get the message? We hear from Sacramento Bee syndicated columnist Dan Walters and ask freshman legislators from both parties what they'll do to end the gridlock.
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To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?