Patt Morrison for Thursday, May 5, 2011

PATT MORRISON SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 5, 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

 

 

1:06 – 1:19

OPEN

 

 

 

1:21:30 – 1:39

Checking back into the social issues war, House passes anti-abortion bill

In a 251 to 175 vote, the House of Representatives yesterday passed a sweeping anti-abortion bill. In addition to renewing guidelines of the 1976 Hyde Amendment banning taxpayer funding of abortion, the legislation would also eliminate any tax credits for businesses whose health insurance covers abortion, regardless of whether or not an individual uses the service. The bill would also prevent individuals from receiving tax deductions for the cost of an abortion when itemizing health expenses on their taxes, or from using a tax-exempt savings account to pay for the procedure. Opponents of the bill say it amounts to a tax increase on small businesses and distracts from the narrow focus GOP lawmakers should keep on the budget and spending issues, while proponents say it undoubtedly saves lives. The so-called “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” (the same bill that turned heads when it originally tried to replace the legal exception for rape with an exception for forcible rape) passed along party lines and stands little chance of passing but how significant of a shift does it mark in the nation’s views on abortion? Could it cause insurance companies to begin dropping their abortion coverage? And could it set precedents not only for abortion rights, but for the definition of "federal money" if the government can revoke a tax deduction for spending private money?

 

Guests:

BOTH UNCONFIRMED

Rep. Jackie Speier, (D—CA’s 12th District) representing San Francisco and San Mateo counties, who recently revealed in an emotional floor speech that she once had an abortion

 

Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R - N.J.), the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” sponsor and chief advocate

 

 

 

 

1:41:30 – 1:58:30

Build it green: how to turn your home into a green, environmentally friendly machine

It could be as simple as improving your rain gutters to turn them into water collectors or as complex as installing solar panels on your roof—green living has become more than just a fad for Southern California, it’s slowly turning into a lifestyle.  For a region that’s generally dry (the past two years aside) and very expensive (especially for electricity) doing both the big and little things around your house to make it more environmentally friendly not only helps the Earth but should also save you a little green (get it?).  The Alt Build Expo roles into town this weekend, showcasing exhibits that include green building and design, energy efficiency, water conservation, ecologically sustainable landscaping, waste management and more.  So instead of letting the big industrial builders all of the fun we bring the Expo to you with tips and advice for turning your home into a green machine.

 

Guest:

Dean Kubani, environmental programs division manager for the City of Santa Monica

IN STUDIO

• The Alternative Building Material & Design Conference & Expo runs Friday & Saturday at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, admission is free.
• Dean Kubani oversees Santa Monica’s efforts related to water efficiency, urban runoff, hazardous materials & sustainability.
• He directs the Santa Monica Sustainable City Program.

 

 

 

2:06 – 2:19

Why are our airways failing us? Asthma is on the rise

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C) just released a new study which found a dramatic rise in the number of Americas suffering from Asthma. Today in the United States, one in 10 children and nearly one in 12 adults have asthma, an inflammatory disorder that makes breathing difficult.  The C.D.C found a 12.3 percent increase from 2001 to 2009, but had no explanation for the sudden surge in asthma cases.  The alarming rates of asthma were found among all demographic groups including women, Hispanics, whites and blacks, but the rise in the numbers of black children diagnosed were especially striking—nearly one in five were diagnosed with asthma in 2009. What’s causing our fragile airways to breakdown? Listen to Patt and you may breathe a little easier tomorrow.  

 

Guest:

UNCONFIRMED:

Center for Disease Control

Medical professional specializing in asthma

 

 

 

2:21:30 – 2:39

OPEN

 

 

 

2:41:30 – 2:58:30

Has Bjorn Lomborg—the poster child of environmental skeptics—changed his climate?

Bjorn Lomborg, Danish environmental academic, infuriated scientists around the world when he published The Skeptical Environmentalist in 2001. The book claimed that overpopulation, destruction of resources, and global warming are not imminent problems. It would be a waste of time, Lomborg wrote, and even detrimental, if countries focused on environmental problems like global warming instead of on bigger problems such as worldwide poverty and disease. Denmark's Committees on Scientific Dishonesty (DCSD) accused Lomborg of spreading a “deluge of inaccuracies” and violating “standards of good scientific practice.” But the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MSTI), which oversees the dishonesty committee, annulled its decision. And now Lomborg is back with a new book that calls climate change "undoubtedly one of the chief concerns facing the world today." A mea culpa? A flip-flop? Lomborg says he just wants climate change money to be spent right. Patt sits down with Lomborg to ask: should our concern about global warming heat up or cool down?

 

Guests:

Bjorn Lomborg, adjunct professor at the Copenhagen Business School; director of the Copenhagen Consensus; author of “The Skeptical Environmentalist” & “Cool It”

ON TAPE

 

Jonathan Serviss
Senior Producer, Patt Morrison
Southern California Public Radio
NPR Affiliate for Los Angeles
89.3 KPCC-FM | 89.1 KUOR-FM | 90.3 KPCV-FM
626.583.5171, office
415.497.2131, mobile
jserviss@kpcc.org / jserviss@scpr.org
www.scpr.org