Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2012 - Evening Edition

>> COMING UP TONIGHT ON KPBS
"EVENING EDITION", A NEW REPORT
SAYS PUBLIC PENSION COSTS ARE
GOING DOWN.
>>> A REPUBLICAN AND A DEMOCRAT
WALK INTO A POLLING BOOTH.
NEITHER VOTES FOR THEIR PARTY.
WHY NOT?
I'LL HAVE THE ANSWER LATER IN
THE SHOW.
>> KPBS "EVENING EDITION" STARTS
NOW.
.
>> HELLO.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M JOANNE FARYON.
>> AND I'M PEGGY PICO, IN FOR
DWANE BROWN.
>> A NEW REPORT SAYS CHILD
IMMUNIZEATIONS IN SAN DIEGO
COUNTY HAS DROPPED TO ITS LOWEST
LEVEL IN EIGHT YEARS, PART OF A
REPORT CARD ON CHILDREN AND
SOCIAL ISSUES.
VACCINATION RATES FROM 2002 TO
2009 WERE ANALYZED.
ONLY 77% OF THE COUNTY'S YOUNG
CHILDREN HAVE COMPLETED THE
BASIC IMMUNIZATION SERIES.
THERE IS ALSO AN INCREASE IN THE
NUMBER OF ELEMENTARY-AGE
CHILDREN WHO HAD NEVER BEEN TO A
DENTIST.
THERE IS A DECREASE IN TEEN
PREGNANCY AND CHILDHOOD OBESITY.
>>> HOW MANY JOBS MIGHT BE CUT
BECAUSE OF THE DEFICIT?
MORE THAN 1100 LAYOFFS ARE
SCHEDULED.
LAYOFF NOTICES HAVE TO BE SENT
IN MARCH, WITH A FINAL LIST IN
MAY.
BUT MARTY BLOCK HAS INTRODUCED A
BILL TO LET THE DISTRICT
NEGOTIATE A LATER DATE WITH THE
TEACHERS UNION.
>>> ANOTHER GOOD NEWS ABOUT SAN
DIEGO'S ECONOMY.
THE ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE UP
FOR THE THIRD MONTH IN A ROW.
THE JANUARY NUMBERS WERE UP AT
THE HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE JUNE OF
2008, BUT IF GAS PRICES REMAIN
HIGH, WE COULD SEE ANOTHER
SLOWDOWN.
>>> THE NEWEST REPORT ON SAN
DIEGO HOME PRICES SAYS THEY FELL
AGAIN LATE LAST YEAR, BUT .7%.
STANDARD & POOR SAYS HOUSING
PRICES DROPPED.
THE STORY OF THE PAST TWO YEARS
IS THAT THE MARKET IS BOTTOMING
OUT, BUT IT HASN'T STABILIZED
YET.
>>> WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP TONIGHT
ON THE MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE WHO
WERE OUSTED FROM THEIR NORTH
COUNTY INDIAN TRIBE.
THE "NORTH COUNTY TIMES" REPORTS
THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS HAS
RECOMMENDED THAT EIGHT FORMER
MEMBERS OF THE PALA BAND OF
MISSION INDIANS BE RE-ADMITTED.
LAST YEAR ELDERS BEGAN
DIS-ENROLLING MEMBERS OF THE
TRIBE DESCENDED FROM MARGARITA
BRITTEN.
IT'S ONLY A RECOMMENDATION, AND
THE TRIBE DOES NOT HAVE TO
FOLLOW IT.
>>> SCRIPPS RESEARCHERS HAVE
FOUND THAT EIGHT OF THE MOST
COMMONLY PRESCRIBED SLEEPING
PILLS INCREASED THE RISK OF
CANCERS AND DEATH.
PATIENTS WHO TAKE AS FEW AS 18
SLEEPING PILLS PER YEAR HAD AN
INCREASE OF DYING, AND THERE WAS
AN INCREASE OF CANCER CASES
AMONG THOSE WHO TAKE SLEEPING
PILLS EVERY NIGHT.
>>> A RIDE ON THE AMPHIBIOUS
ASSAULT VEHICLE CAN MAKE EVEN
THE TOUGHEST MARINE SICK TO HIS
STOMACH.
THE MARINE CORPS WANTS TO
PREVENT THAT.
MARINES FROM CAMP PENDLETON ARE
TAKING PART IN THE EFFORT.
RESEARCHERS ARE HOPING THE NEXT
GENERATION OF THESE VEHICLES
WON'T BE AS HARD ON THE TROOPS'
STOMACHS.
>>> V.A. MEDICAL CENTERS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY ARE BEING AUDITED TO
SEE IF THEY MEET THE MENTAL
HEALTH NEEDS OF VETERANS.
THE AUDIT INCLUDES SITE VISITS
TO ALL V.A. HOSPITALS WITH
REPORTS ON STAFFING,
PRODUCTIVITY, AND VACANCY RATES.
MORE THAN HALF A MILLION OF
THEIR PATIENTS HAVE BEEN
DIAGNOSED WITH POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER, MANY OF WHICH
ARE VETERANS OF IRAQ AND
AFGHANISTAN.
>>> TONIGHT ON THE ROUNDTABLE,
SOME CITIES ARE ACTUALLY SEEING
THEIR PENSION COSTS GO DOWN.
>> A NEW REPORT BY A SAN DIEGO
WATCHDOG AGENCY SAYS SEVERAL
CITIES IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY WILL
SEE THEIR PENSION COSTS GO DOWN.
THE ANALYSIS BY THE SAN DIEGO
COUNTY TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION
LOOKED AT COSTS OF PENSIONS IN
17 CITIES.
HERE TO TELL US WHAT THEY FOUND
IS LANI LUTAR.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> TELL US WHAT YOU WANTED TO
FIND OUT WHEN YOU STARTED THIS
STUDY.
>> WE STARTED WITH A STUDY IN
2009 TO LOOK AT THE
COMPREHENSIVE COST OF PENSIONS
THROUGHOUT THE REGION, BECAUSE
SO MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID
TO THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN
DIEGO, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW THE
STATUS OF THE OTHER 17 CITIES.
WE HAVE ALMOST ON AN ANNUAL
BASIS SINCE THEN ISSUED AN
UPDATE TO SEE WHERE THE CITIES
ARE AT AND WHETHER THEY HAVE
IMPLEMENTED SOME OF THE REFORM
RECOMMENDATIONS WE PUT OUT IN
2009.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE ARE
SEEING A NUMBER OF CITIES THAT
HAVE DECREASED PENSION COSTS FOR
THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
>> AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT
UP RIGHT NOW.
STARTING WITH SOLANA BEACH.
>> A 12% DECLINE.
IMPERIAL BEACH WILL ALSO SEE AN
11% REDUCTION.
LEMON GROVE, A 7% DECREASE.
A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES ARE
GOING TO SEE SLIGHT DECREASES,
BUT AT MUCH MORE MODEST RATES.
THIS MEANS THE CITIES ARE GOING
TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY
TO SPEND FOR OTHER THINGS RATHER
THAN JUST PENSION COSTS, AND THE
THINGS THAT THEY'VE HAD CUTS TO
THEIR SERVICES, WHETHER THAT
MEANS FILLING POTHOLES OR
LIBRARY HOURS, REC CENTER HOURS,
THAT PERHAPS NOW THE CITIES WILL
HAVE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY
FOR THEIR BUDGETS FOR THE
UPCOMING NEWS.
WISH I COULD SAY THAT'S THE END
OF IT, BUT WE ALSO LOOKED AT
WHICH CITIES ARE GOING TO SEE
INCREASES, AND THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF CITIES THAT WILL SEE
INCREASES.
DEL MAR IS GOING TO BE THE ONE
THAT SEES THE MOST DRAMATIC
INCREASE, WITH 15% INCREASE
COMPARED TO LAST YEAR IN PENSION
COSTS.
>> THE CITIES THAT WERE ABLE TO
GET THEIR COSTS DOWN, WHAT WERE
THE TWO BIG THINGS THAT THEY
DID?
>> THE FIRST THING THAT A NUMBER
OF CITIES HAVE DONE IS ASKED
THEIR EMPLOYEES TO FINALLY START
PAYING A LITTLE BIT TOWARDS
THEIR PENSION COSTS.
AND THIS IS ASTONISHING TO MANY
PEOPLE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO
LEARN THAT IN A NUMBER OF THESE
CITIES, THEIR EMPLOYEES
CONTRIBUTE NOTHING TO THEIR
PENSION COSTS.
THAT'S FINALLY CHANGING, AND YOU
HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE GOING TO
START CONTRIBUTING A PERCENTAGE
OF THEIR PAYCHECK TOWARDS
PENSION COSTS.
AND THAT ALSO RESULTS IN
IMMEDIATE IMPACTS TO THE CITY'S
BUDGET, BECAUSE THEY CAN DO THAT
ONCE THEY'RE IN THEIR
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE LABOR
GROUPS, THEY CAN HAVE THAT
ADOPTED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
THE OTHER REFORM THAT CITIES
HAVE BEEN PURSUING IS TO HAVE
THEIR NEW EMPLOYEES GO INTO
LOWER-COST PENSION PLANS.
THIS IS ALSO A GOOD THING FOR
THEM TO PURSUE, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DOESN'T
RESULT IN THE TYPE OF IMMEDIATE
BUDGET IMPACT --
>> THAT'S MORE LONG-TERM --
>> BUT IT'S STILL VERY
IMPORTANT, SO WE APPLAUD THOSE
CITIES THAT HAVE MADE THOSE TYPE
OF DECISIONS, TO PUT NEW
EMPLOYEES IN LOWER-COST PENSION
PLANS.
>> THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO IS NOT
IN THE STUDY, BUT THE CITY
SPENDS BETWEEN 20 AND 25% OF ITS
GENERAL REVENUE FUND ON ITS
PENSION PLAN.
WE GOT THAT INFORMATION FROM
VLAD KOGAN.
YOUR ORGANIZATION HELPED CRAFT
THE REFORM THAT'S GOING TO BE ON
THE BALLOT IN JUNE.
THAT SAYS TO NEW EMPLOYEES "YOU
WON'T HAVE A GUARANTEED
BENEFIT."
IS THAT THE WAY YOUR
ORGANIZATION WOULD LIKE TO SEE
FUTURE BENEFITS GO, WHERE IT'S
NOT GUARANTEED?
>> YES.
THE COMPREHENSIVE PENSION REFORM
INITIATIVE, WHICH WILL BE ON THE
BALLOT, IS SOMETHING WE'RE VERY
BIG PROPONENTS OF AND HELPED
SPONSOR.
THE REASON WE DID THAT IS YOU
HAVE TO APPROACH THIS IN A
COMPREHENSIVE MANNER, NOT JUST
BY PUTTING NEW EMPLOYEES INTO A
NEW PENSION PLAN.
IN THE CITY OF SAN DIEGO, THERE
ARE ALL KINDS OF VARIOUS MEANS
BY WHICH PENSION COSTS CAN GO
UP, THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED OVER
THE YEARS, AND SO THIS
COMPREHENSIVE PENSION REFORM
INITIATIVE ATTEMPTS TO PUT NEW
EMPLOYEES INTO A 401(K) STYLE
PLAN, AND ENSURES THAT EMPLOYEES
ALREADY AT THE CITY WILL HAVE
THEIR PENSION COSTS, THE PENSION
BENEFITS, THAT IS, OFF OF THEIR
BASE PAY AS OPPOSED TO ALL THESE
ADD-ONS.
IT'S A VERY COMPREHENSIVE
MEASURE.
AS FAR AS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE WITH OTHER CITIES AROUND THE
REGION, THEY ALSO HAVE LIMITED
OPTIONS.
IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THESE
PENSION SYSTEMS ARE TRULY
SUSTAINABLE, WE DO BELIEVE THAT
THERE WILL NEED TO BE EITHER A
STATEWIDE LEGISLATION THAT IS
PASSED OR A CITIZENS INITIATIVE
WILL HAVE TO BE PASSED MUCH LIKE
THE STATE OF SAN DIEGO.
>> WE KNOW THAT JERRY BROWN HAS
TALKED ABOUT STATEWIDE.
IF WE PUT POLITICS ASIDE, THE
DEBATE HAS BEEN FRAMED THAT
PUBLIC-SECTOR EMPLOYEES SHOULD
NOT HAVE BETTER PENSION BENEFITS
THAN PRIVATE-SECTOR.
WE KNOW FROM ONE STUDY AT U.C.
BERKLEY THAT A HIGH PERCENTAGE
OF CALIFORNIA WORKERS DON'T HAVE
A PENSION PLAN.
WHY DON'T PRIVATE-SECTOR
EMPLOYEES HAVE PENSION PLANS?
WHY ARE WE ASKING THAT ONE
QUESTION INSTEAD?
>> I THINK WHAT WE SEE IN THE
PUBLIC SECTOR, THERE WERE
GREATER BENEFITS PROVIDED
BECAUSE THE BASE PAY WAS
SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE NOW OBSERVED IS
THAT THERE HAS BEEN A
SIGNIFICANT SHIFT, AND IN MANY
CASES, FOR EMPLOYEE CATEGORIES,
PUBLIC-SECTOR EMPLOYEES ARE
RECEIVING MORE IN NOT ONLY THEIR
BASE PAY OR SALARY, BUT THEY'RE
RECEIVING MORE IN THEIR SALARY
AND THEIR BENEFITS.
AND IF YOU CONTINUE TO DO THAT,
OR IF YOU DON'T REFORM AND
CHANGE THE SYSTEM, THEN YOU HAVE
A SITUATION IN WHICH IT'S SIMPLY
UNSUSTAINABLE, AND WHAT DOES
THAT MEAN?
THAT MEANS THAT EITHER CITIES
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP PAYING
MORE INTO THE SYSTEM, AND THAT
MEANS LESS MONEY TO PROVIDE
BASIC CITY SERVICES, OR THAT
PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE
TAX-INCREASE PROPOSALS, AS WE
HAVE SEEN IN A NUMBER OF
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE
REGION, JUST IN THE CITY OF SAN
DIEGO, IT WAS JUST PROPOSED IN
2010, AS WE KNOW.
SO THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS, AND IT
WOULD BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE EVERYTHING, BUT THAT'S NOT
A REALITY.
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO WRAP IT
THERE.
LANI LUTAR, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, JOANNE.
>>> THE SAN DIEGO RIVER ESTUARY
LOOKS LIKE A POSTCARD, BUT UP
CLOSE, THERE IS A LOT OF TRASH
THAT.
STORY IN JUST A MINUTE.
THIS IS KPBS "EVENING EDITION".
ESTEWARIESTEWARIES ESTUARY
ESTUARIESESTEWARIESTEWARIES
ESTUARY ESTUARIES.
>> REMEMBER THIS SITE FROM LAST
NOVEMBER?
CREWS TRANSFORMING THE DECK OF
THE USS CARL VINSON INTO A
BASKETBALL COURT?
SAN DIEGO WON'T GET A REPEAT
THIS YEAR.
BUT IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T
LIKE THE CITY.
THEY WON'T BE HERE BECAUSE THE
SHIP WON'T BE AVAILABLE THIS
FALL.
THE ORGANIZERS ARE HOPING TO
COME BACK TO SAN DIEGO IN 2013.
.
>>> ONCE A YEAR, A GROUP OF
VOLUNTEERS ARE GIVEN PERMISSION
TO CLEAN UP A UNIQUE STRETCH OF
THE SAN DIEGO RIVER.
ED JOYCE SAYS HE CAN'T TELL FROM
THE SHORELINE, BUT THE AREA IS
PACKED WITH AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF
GARBAGE.
>> Reporter: THE SOUTHERN
WILDLIFE PRESERVE STRETCHES
ALONG THREE MILES OF THE SAN
DIEGO RIVER, ONE OF THE LAST
URBAN ESTUARIES OF ITS TYPE
REMAINING IN CALIFORNIA.
THIS IS HOME TO ENDANGERED BIRDS
AND A STOP ON THE PACIFIC
FLYWAY.
ON THIS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, 54
VOLUNTEERS ARE USING KAYAKS AND
CANOES TO CLEAN UP THE RIVER,
WHILE OTHERS PICK UP TRASH ON
THE SHORELINE.
>> WE ARE GOING TO CLEAN UP THE
TRASH THAT'S FLOATING ON THE
ESTUARY.
THIS IS A WILDLIFE PRESERVE, BUT
WE GET SPECIAL PERMISSION ONCE A
YEAR OUTSIDE OF NESTING SEASON
TO GO IN THERE AND GET
EVERYTHING OUT.
LAST CHANCE BEFORE IT HITS THE
OCEAN.
>> Reporter: ROB HUTSEL WITH
THE SAN DIEGO RIVER PARK
FOUNDATION SAYS ONLY 5% OF THE
ORIGINAL COASTAL WETLANDS REMAIN
IN CALIFORNIA, AND THIS IS ONE
OF THOSE AREAS.
IT'S ALSO HOME TO ENDANGERED
BIRDS.
>> ONE OF THOSE IS THE CLAPPER
RAIL, WHICH IS A VERY ENDAGERED
SPECIES OF BIRD THAT LIVES RIGHT
OUT HERE.
THERE ARE A FEW HUNDRED OF THEM
IN THE WORLD.
AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A
FEW OF THEM.
IT'S ALSO JUST AN AREA THAT'S
BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S PART OF MISSION BAY PARK.
PEOPLE COME BY -- TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON A SUMMER
DAY COME BY HERE, AND YOU DON'T
WANT TO SEE TRASH OUT HERE.
>> Reporter: WHICH IS ONE
REASON THE VOLUNTEERS ARE
NAVIGATING THE REEDS TO REMOVE
TENNIS BALLS, PLASTIC BOTTLES,
AND OTHER TRASH.
>> GARBAGE, EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK!
RECYCLING AND GARBAGE!
WE SEPARATE IT.
THIS IS GARBAGE.
AND THIS IS RECYCLING.
>> YOU'RE ONLY ABOUT 15 MINUTES
INTO STARTING TO PICK THINGS UP.
>> YEAH.
IT'S AMAZING, WHERE YOU DON'T
ACTUALLY SEE IT, IT'S THERE.
IT'S BEEN IN THE WATER SO LONG,
IT LOOKS LIKE PART OF THE WATER,
BUT IT DOESN'T DECOMPOSE OR
BIODEGRADE.
>> Reporter: THERE'S A LOT OF
TENNIS BALLS
PEOPLE ARE FINDING SO FAR THIS
MORNING IN THE RIVER.
THESE ARE JUST TWO OF MANY.
IT'S A LITTLE THICKER IN HERE,
SO IT'S NOT QUITE AS EASY TO
PADDLE THROUGH TO PICK UP THIS
TRASH.
THAT'S WHY THEY DO THIS SPECIAL
CLEANUP ONCE A YEAR, WITH
SPECIAL PERMISSION, TO COME INTO
THIS PART OF THE SAN DIEGO RIVER
ESTUARY TO PICK UP THIS TRASH.
THERE IS A LOT OF IT HERE.
>> I FOUND A LID.
DOES THAT COUNT FOR A DRINK?
>> Reporter: YOU REALLY CAN'T
SEE JUST HOW MUCH TRASH AND
LITTER IS IN THE REEDS OF THE
ESTUARY UNTIL YOU GET IN THE
WATER.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, SITES LIKE
THIS ARE FAR TOO COMMON IN THIS
PRESS TEEN SECTION OF THE SAN
DIEGO RIVER.
WE FIND LOTS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES,
A LOT OF ALCOHOL BOTTLES, A
FRISBEE.
THIS PLASTIC TRASH IN THIS PART
OF THE ESTUARY IS FAR, FAR, TOO
COMMON.
MATT COCHRAN OF POWAY IS FINDING
HIS SHARE OF PLASTIC AND OTHER
TRASH.
>> I'VE FOUND 20 TENNIS BALLS, A
WHOLE BUNCH OF BOTTLES, PLASTIC,
GLASS, STYROFOAM, PLASTIC BAGS.
>> Reporter: IT'S COCHRAN'S
SECOND YEAR PULLING TRASH FROM
THE ESTUARY.
HE PLANS TO OFFLOAD HIS FULL
BOAT AND HEAD OUT TO PICK UP
MORE.
ROB HUTSEL SAYS THIS SERVES AS A
BAROMETER FOR THE OVERALL HEALTH
OF THE RIVER.
>> IT'S THE END OF THE PIPE.
ALL THE OTHER STUFF, THE
POLLUTANTS IN THE RIVER,
EVENTUALLY WASHES DOWN HERE, SO
IT TELLS US HOW HEALTHY IT IS.
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THEY'RE
SEEING LESS TRASH IN THE RIVER,
BUT THE OVERALL WATER QUALITY
RATES A "C" GRADE.
HERE IS THE RUNDOWN.
.
>> Reporter: THE MOST UNUSUAL
ITEM WAS A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE.
>> THAT WAS KPBS ENVIRONMENT
REPORTER ED JOYCE.
YOU CAN SEE A SLIDE SHOW OF THE
CLEANUP AND MORE INFORMATION ON
HOW YOU CAN VOLUNTEER ON OUR
WEBSITE, KPBS.ORG.
>>> NOW, REMEMBER THAT RIDDLE WE
TOLD YOU ABOUT THE DEMOCRAT AND
THE REPUBLICAN AND NOT VOTING
FOR THEIR PARTY?
JOANNE HAS THE ANSWER ON THE
ROUNDTABLE.
.
>> FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE
APPROVING PROPOSITION 14,
CALIFORNIA VOTERS WILL BE VOTING
IN AN OPEN PRIMARY THIS JUNE.
THAT MEANS DEMOCRATS CAN VOTE
FOR REPUBLICANS, AND REPUBLICANS
CAN VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS.
JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
THIS MEANS AND HOW IT COULD
SHAKE UP THE CALIFORNIA
POLITICAL SCENE ARE DEBORAH
SEILER AND CARL LUNA.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
>> NICE TO BE HERE.
>> DEBORAH, FOR THE VOTER
GETTING THEIR BALLOT, WHAT
CHANGES WILL THEY SEE?
>> THEY'LL SEE FIRST A CONTEST
FOR PRESIDENT.
THAT WILL BE THE CONTEST RELATED
TO THEIR POLITICAL PARTY F.
THEY'RE A DEMOCRAT, THEY'LL SEE
THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR
PRESIDENT, IF THEY'RE
REPUBLICAN, THEY'LL SEE
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR
PRESIDENT, THEN DOWN THE BALLOT
THEY'LL SEE VOTER-NOMINATED
OFFICES.
THESE ARE CONGRESSIONAL, STATE,
LEGISLATIVE OFFICES -- WHERE
THOSE USED TO BE RESTRICTED TO
THAT VOTER'S POLITICAL PARTY,
NOW THEY WILL BE A COMBINATION
OF ALL THE CANDIDATES RUNNING IN
THAT PRIMARY ELECTION, WHICH
WILL INCLUDE DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS.
>> AND WE STILL HAVE NONPARTISAN
OFFICES AS WELL.
>> AND THEY ARE UNCHANGED FOR
THIS ELECTION.
>> SO, NOW, CARL, HOW COULD THIS
AFFECT CALIFORNIA POLITICS?
>> THE HOPE IS BY GIVING VOTERS
MORE CHOICE, MORE WILL SHOW UP
TO VOTE.
INDEPENDENTS WILL COME OUT WHO
MIGHT SIT IT OUT.
AND IT MIGHT AAPPEAL MORE TOWARD
MODERATE CANDIDATES.
YOU GET TWO DEMOCRATS WHO WIN.
THE DEMOCRAT THAT ASK GET
INDEPENDENTS AND EVEN MODERATE
REPUBLICANS TO VOTE FOR THEM,
HAS MORE CHANCE TO WIN.
THAT'S THE HOPE -- MORE
MODERATION, MORE TURNOUT.
>> THE 52ND CONGRESSIONAL RACE,
WE HAVE BRIAN BILBRAY, AND LORI
SALDANA AND SCOTT PETERS RUNNING
AGAINST HIM.
COULD WE SEE TWO DEMOCRATS RUN
AGAINST EACH OTHER IN THE
GENERAL ELECTION?
>> WE CERTAINLY COULD.
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, DEPENDING
ON HOW THE VOTERS SWAY IN THE
PRIMARY ELECTION.
THEY COULD GO FOR THE TWO TOP
DEMOCRATS OR SWITCH BETWEEN THE
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.
>> IS IT THE TOP TWO
VOTE-GETTERS, OR IF SOMEONE GETS
50% PLUS ONE, DO THEY WIN OR
STILL GO TO THE GENERAL
ELECTION?
>> THEY STILL GO TO THE GENERAL
ELECTION, UNLIKE THE NONPARTISAN
CONTEST.
A COUNTY SUPERVISOR COULD WIN IF
THEY GOT 50% PLUS ONE VOTE.
BUT THE TOP TWO VOTE-GETTERS GO
FORWARD ONTO THE NOVEMBER BALLOT
FOR THESE OOTHER OFFICES.
>> YOU TALKED, CARL, ABOUT MORE
MODERATE POLITICS.
WE'RE SEEING HOW THE OPPOSITE IS
PLAYING, WITH THE G.O.P. AND WHO
THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO
APPEAL TO.
SO IS THIS A GOOD THING IN THE
END, TO BLUR THE LINES BETWEEN
POLITICAL PARTIES?
>> THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF
GOVERNMENT IS BASED ON
CONSENSUS.
FOR ANYTHING TO GET DONE, PEOPLE
HAVE TO COME TOGETHER.
WHEN YOU'RE POLARIZED, LIKE IN
SACRAMENTO, THESE CLOSED
PRIMARIES OR BLANKET PRIMARIES
-- YOU DON'T GET MUCH DONE, AS
WE'VE SEEN FOR MANY YEARS BOTH
IN SACRAMENTO AND WASHINGTON.
THE HOPE IS THIS WILL MAKE
THINGS MORE MODERATE; PEOPLE
WILL BE ABLE TO AGREE.
I'M NOT SURE IT WILL WORK.
WE KEEP CHANGING THE PROCESS.
>> WHAT BROUGHT ABOUT
PROPOSITION 14?
>> DECADES OF STRUGGLE AND THE
LAST DECADE OF POLITICAL
PARALYSIS, MAJOR STATE POLICY.
THE HOPE IS YOU GET ENOUGH
MODERATE REPUBLICANS AND
MODERATE DEMOCRATS WHO CAN COME
TOGETHER WHO CAN AGREE TO A
LITTLE BIT OF TAX INCREASE, A
LITTLE BIT OF SPENDING CUTS.
>> WE HAVEN'T GOT A LOT OF TIME
LEFT, BUT I WANT TO TOUCH ON ONE
MORE THING IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S
HAPPENING IN MICHIGAN RIGHT NOW.
WE DO HAVE SOME CROSSOVER VOTING
AS WELL, IN TERMS OF THE PRIMARY
AND THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE?
>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE
AMERICAN INDEPENDENT PARTY HAVE
OPENED UP THEIR PRIMARY TO
NONPARTISAN OR WE USED TO CALL
THEM "DECLINE TO STATE" VOTERS.
THEY COULD ASK FOR A STRAIGHT
BALLOT OR THE DEMOCRATIC BALLOT
OR INDEPENDENT PARTY BALLOT.
>> CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW THIS
ALL TURNS OUT.
THANK YOU, DEBORAH SEILER AND
CARL LUNA.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> WE HAVE MORE ON THE DEBATE
OVER PENSION COSTS IN JUST
A
MOMENT.
THIS IS KPBS "EVENING EDITION".
.
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE PUBLIC
SQUARE ON KPBS "EVENING
EDITION".
EARLIER, YOU HEARD LANI LUTAR
FROM THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY
TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION TALK ABOUT
PENSION COSTS FOR CITIES
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE ASKED SOMEONE FROM THE LABOR
COUNCIL FOR COMMENT.
IN AN EMAIL GONZALEZ WRITES:.
>> AND I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT
A SEGMENT WE'RE WORKING ON FOR
TOMORROW.
WE TOLD YOU EARLIER ABOUT THAT
BIG SLEEPING-PILL STUDY THAT
SAYS PEOPLE WHO TAKE SLEEP AIDS
HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF DEATH AND
CANCER.
WE'LL HAVE THE AUTHOR OF THE
STUDY ON THE SHOW TOMORROW TO
TALK ABOUT HIS FINDINGS.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS, EMAIL ME.
AND YOU'RE ALWAYS INVITED TO
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER OR, OF
COURSE, LIKE US ON FACEBOOK.
NOW LET'S GO BACK TO THE NEWS
DESK WHERE PEGGY HAS A RECAP OF
TONIGHT'S TOP STORIES.
>>> A NEW REPORT ON CHILDREN'S
HEALTH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY FINDS
FEWER CHILDREN ARE GETTING
VACCINES, FEWER TEENS ARE
GETTING PREGNANT, AND MORE
CHILDREN ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.
THE ISSUE WAS REPORTED TODAY BY
THE CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE.
>>> THERE IS A WARNING ABOUT
SLEEPING PILLS BY RESEARCHERS AT
SCRIPPS.
JUST 18 PILLS A YEAR GIVES YOU A
4% GREATER RISK OF DYING, AND
THERE IS A HIGHER RISK OF CANCER
WITH DAILY SLEEPING-PILL USE.
>>> THERE ARE TWO REPORTS OF THE
ECONOMY: AN ECONOMIST SAYS THE
LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS ARE
UP FOR THE THIRD MONTH IN A ROW.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, STANDARD
& POOR REPORTS ANOTHER MONTH OF
DECLINE FOR LOCAL HOME PRICES.
>>> YOU CAN WATCH AND COMMENT ON
ANY OF THE STORIES YOU SAW
TONIGHT ON OUR WEBSITE,
KPBS.ORG/EVENINGEDITION.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH A LOOK AT
THE FORECAST.
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