Patt Morrison for Friday, 1/21/2011

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Friday, January 21, 2011

1-3 p.m.

 

CALL-IN @ 866-893-5722, 866-893-KPCC; OR JOIN THE CONVERSATION ONLINE ON THE PATT MORRISON BLOG AT KPCC-DOT-ORG

 

1:00 – 1:30

OPEN

 

1:30 – 2:00

We can do it: women on the front lines of war?

Women's rights have come a long way in this country, from gaining the right to vote to equal pay and employment opportunities. While great strides have been made in many fields, one certain gap of rights remains in the military - women are still barred from active combat and serving on the front lines. Many other countries (like Israel) allow women to serve on the front lines of combat units, but those opposed to the idea here have made the argument that there isn't a need for women to fight or that women don't have the physical or emotional strength to handle such strenuous circumstances. This may all be changing soon. Organizations and many in Congress have been pushing for the policy to change, and now the Military Leadership Diversity Commission, created by Congress two years ago, is expected to compile a report recommending that the policy be changed and present it to Congress and President Obama in the spring. Don't Ask, Don't Tell was just finally repealed, so what will it take for women to be allowed to fight? And if the policy does change, is it a good idea, or is there anything to the old stereotype that men are tougher than women?

 

Guest:

Greg Jacob, Policy Director, Service Women's Action Network (SWAN)

HE CALLS US

 

2:00 – 2:30

Happy Birthday Citizens United

It’s been one year since the controversial 5-4 ruling by the Supreme Court allowed unlimited sums of money to flow into the political system and gave corporations some of the same free speech rights as individuals.  So what impact has the ruling had on our political system?  The November 2010 elections saw unprecedented amounts of money

flood the political machine.  What’s disturbing for some is that about one-third of that money came from unidentified sources. Is all this money having an impact? Some Congress members worry that if they vote in line with their constituents and against a special interest group with deep pockets there will be a day of reckoning come election time. A Pew study found that 80% of Americans of all political persuasions are concerned about the influence of money in politics.  So what, if anything, can or should Congress do in regard to campaign finance reform? And did this case set a precedent that could end up giving more rights generally reserved for individuals to corporations? 

 

Guests:
Erwin Chemerinsky, Founding Dean, UC Irvine School of Law and author of The Conservative Assault on the Constitution
CALL HIM

 

Lisa Graves, Executive Director, Center for Media & Democracy
CALL HER:

• The Center for Media and Democracy is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan, public interest organization that focuses on investigating and countering spin by corporations, industries, and government agencies.
• Graves was the chief counsel for nominations for the Senate Judiciary Committee during the Clinton Administration
• Graves was the former Deputy Assist Attorney General in the office of legal policy for the Clinton Administration.

HE IS SUPPORTIVE OF CITIZENS UNITED

Brad Smith, former Chairman, Federal Election Commission (FEC); Chairman of the Center for Competitive Politics

CALL HIM @

• The Center for Competitive Politics promotes and defends citizens' First Amendment political rights of speech, assembly, and petition. This means opposing so-called reformers' efforts to limit campaign contributions, taxpayer funded political campaigns, the "fairness doctrine" in talk radio and other limits on citizens' ability to support the candidates and causes of their choice.
  
  

Mary Boyle, Vice President of Communications, Common Cause

CALL HER @

• Common Cause is asking the Justice Department to investigate the apparent involvement of Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas in a political strategy session hosted by Koch Industries, the nation’s second largest privately held company.

 

• Common Cause is a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen's lobbying organization promoting open, honest and accountable government.

 

 

2:30 – 3:00

Be early, be smart, beware the taxman in 2011

When the 2010 Tax Relief Act was signed on December 17^th of last year, basic tax rules didn’t change much for 2011, but a few things are new: unemployment benefits were extended for an additional 13 months, a "patch" to the alternative minimum tax was provided, payroll taxes on employees for 2011 were cut, businesses got a 100% bonus depreciation on new equipment purchases, and the estate tax was restored with a top rate of 35% and an exemption of $5 million. Tax advisors suggest you start the new year right by knowing your options and acting early to make the most of your investments, maximize your retirement plan, and take advantage of those new business regulations. And be sure to tighten up your bookkeeping methods, because the IRS is increasingly using “hard-core” tactics such as liens to enforce tax collection laws. In fact, the national taxpayer advocate is reporting that the agency is cracking down so aggressively that it is “inflicting unnecessary harm” on working Americans. Plan early, plan smart, beware the taxman… the mantra to follow in 2011.

 

Guest:

Selwyn Gerber CPA managing partner and founder of Gerber & Co., Inc., located in Century City 

CALL HIM: 

 

NOT CONFIRMED – DO NOT PROMOTE THIS GUEST:

Nina Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate with the Taxpayer Advocate Service, an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers resolve problems and recommends changes that will prevent the problems.