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eDIGEST June 2006
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Upcoming Events | Quick Reference List | Alumni and Student Newsmakers | Faculty in the News | Recent Faculty Speaking
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DAN KAMMEN will be featured in a book panel: “Big Coal and the Future of Energy”
Cody's Books in
June 20, 2006 - 6 p.m.
A panel featuring Mother Jones publisher Jay Harris, "Big Coal" author Jeff Goodell, former Sierra Club president Adam Werbach, director of the U.C.-Berkeley Renewable and Appropriate Technology Energy Lab Daniel Kammen, and Natural Resources Defense Council staff scientist Audrey Chang will discuss America's reliance on coal, and debate what type of energy is best for our future: solar, wind, or even nuclear? http://www.motherjones.com/events/index.html
In addition to the print media referenced
below, broadcast media coverage includes numerous interviews with DEAN NACHT by
KRON TV, KGO TV and KTVU, among others.
ALUMNI AND STUDENT NEWSMAKERS
2.
“Different Shade Of Green - DaimlerChrysler Trails Other Automakers In Hybrids
But Is Working On Alternatives” (
3. “Schools Consider K-8 to Combat Dropout Rates. Controversial Solution” (ABC7 TV News, May 16, 2006); story citing GOLDMAN SCHOOL STUDY co-authored by MICHAEL LINDEN (MPP cand. 2007), LAUREL SIPES (MPP cand. 2007), BRIAN PICK (MPP cand. 2007), MICHAEL SMITH (MPP cand. 2007), LESLIE HALL (MPP cand. 2007), http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=education&id=4179232
4. “East Bay Roundup: K-8 Schools Voted Down” (Contra Costa Times [*requires registration], May 19, 2006); story citing GOLDMAN SCHOOL STUDY co-authored by MICHAEL LINDEN (MPP cand. 2007), LAUREL SIPES (MPP cand. 2007), BRIAN PICK (MPP cand. 2007), MICHAEL SMITH (MPP cand. 2007), LESLIE HALL (MPP cand. 2007); http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/email/news/14617899.htm
5. “Early signs point to smooth budget. Assembly speaker, legislative analyst see hope for a quick deal on the spending plan” (Sacramento Bee, May 16, 2006); story citing ELIZABETH HILL (MPP 1975); http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14255874p-15071049c.html
6. “Attacks on aid workers 'unacceptable': UNICEF's VENEMAN” (Agence France Presse, May 14, 2006); story citing ANN VENEMAN (MPP 1970).
7. “Solution or Distraction? An Ethanol Reality Check” (New York Times, May 14, 2006); story citing ROLAND HWANG (MPP 1992).
8. “State budget: Governor pumps up spending. Economic boom enables state to restore school funds” (Sacramento Bee, May 13, 2006); story citing MIKE GENEST (MPP 1980); http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/v-print/story/14254948p-15070403c.html
9. “Prop. 82: Initiative backers threaten Gap boycott” (Sacramento Bee, May 12, 2006); story citing BuyBlue.org , co-founded by MARTHA TURE (MPP 2004); http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/v-print/story/14254500p-15070065c.html
10. “County At The Crossroads Tough Decisions, Limited Choices. Airport on auction block? Officials consider sale or lease to lift county's sagging finances” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 12, 2006); story citing STEVE AGOSTINI (MPP 1986).
11. “Milwaukee County Leaders must head off fiscal disaster” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 7, 2006); editorial citing STEVE AGOSTINI (MPP 1986).
12. “Unity Is Urged on Chemical Policy in State. Industry leaders and others weigh how best to respond to calls for lawmakers to give the public more protection from toxic compounds” (Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2006); story citing study co-authored by DANIEL CHIA (MPP 2004) and BRYAN EHLERS (MPP 2004); http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-chemical11may11,0,6118965.story?coll=la-home-business
13. “County's rising chemical content spurs quest for tighter controls” (Copley News Service, May 10, 2006); story citing study co-authored by DANIEL CHIA (MPP 2004) and BRYAN EHLERS (MPP 2004); http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060510/news_1n10chemical.html
14. “'Green chemistry' forum focuses on California report” (Chemical News & Intelligence, May 9, 2006); story citing study co-authored by DANIEL CHIA (MPP 2004) and BRYAN EHLERS (MPP 2004).
15. “California 'green chemistry' plan draws criticism” (Chemical News & Intelligence, May 10, 2006); story citing study co-authored by DANIEL CHIA (MPP 2004) and BRYAN EHLERS (MPP 2004).
16.
“
17. “As Gas Prices Climb, So Do The SUV Deals - Automakers Hope Steep Incentives Enough To Counteract Pump Woes, Keep Buyers Coming Back” (Charlotte Observer, May 6, 2006); story citing ROLAND HWANG (MPP 1992).
18. “Electric Car Drivers, Start Your Engines. Your Ride Is Now Legal In Minnesota, And That's Good News For Princeton Maker” (St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 5, 2006); story citing ROLAND HWANG (MPP 1992).
19.
“Malnutrition kills 10 children every minute, says UN” (The Independent (
20.
“
21.
“Post-partum blues - Mom of toddler born in
22.
“
23. “Readiness key to avian flu. Community response is focus of officials” (Denver Post, April 17, 2006); story citing TIM UYEKI (MPP 1985).
24. “Study of statutory rape finds leniency” (The Providence Journal, December 9, 2005); story citing study by ROSS CHEIT (MPP 1980).
FACULTY IN THE NEWS
1. “For
2. “Fate of world climate lies with
3. “Proposition 82: Universal Preschool” (Forum,
KQED-FM 88.5, May 25, 2006); features commentary by DAVID KIRP; listen to the
program at: http://www.kqed.org/pgmArchive/RD19
4. “Corporate
5. “Rivals tout city experience when challenging an
icon” (Contra Costa Times [*requires registration], May 20, 2006; story citing
HENRY BRADY; http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/email/news/14627572.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
6. “ROBERT REICH and Steve Moore discuss
immigration and offshore natural gas drilling” (Kudlow
& Company, CNBC News, May 19, 2006); features commentary by ROBERT REICH.
7. “Another tax cut for the rich?” - commentary by ROBERT REICH (Marketplace, American Public
Media, May 17, 2006); listen to this commentary at: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/05/17/PM200605176.html
8. “Cargill, ADM Differ in Food - Fuel Debate” (New
York Times Online [*requires registration], May 16, 2006); story citing DAN
KAMMEN; http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Food-vs-Fuel.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print
9. “'Morehouse Man' defiant in face of negative
stats among peers” (San Jose Mercury News [*requires registration], May 12,
2006); story citing STEVEN RAPHAEL; http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/14566264.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
10. “Will the Internet stay fast and cheap?” -
Commentary by ROBERT REICH (Marketplace, American Public Media, May 10, 2006);
listen to this commentary at: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/05/10/AM200605101.html
11. “John Kenneth Galbraith Is Remembered as a
12. “ROBERT REICH and Steve Moore discuss the
Medicare drug benefit, global warming and Al Gore” (Kudlow
& Company, CNBC News, May 10, 2006); features commentary by ROBERT REICH.
13. “Different views on gas prices” (Monterey
County Herald, May 9, 2006); story citing ROBERT REICH.
14. “60 Minutes: The Ethanol Solution. Could
Corn-Based Fuel Help End
15. “Speaker lauds PLU's
insight, vision” (Distributed by Knight/Ridder
Tribune News Service, May 6, 2006); story citing ROBERT REICH.
16. “Trade winds' slowdown backs warming theory”
(San Francisco Chronicle, May 4, 2006); story citing DAN KAMMEN; http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/05/04/MNG8CIKISS1.DTL
17. “Lawyers, lobbyists wage search engine wars” -
commentary by ROBERT REICH (Marketplace, American Public Media, May 3, 2006); listen to this commentary at: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/05/03/PM200605034.html
18. “'Aisle-by-Aisle': Cart strategy for good
eating” (USA Today, May 2, 2006); story about VISITING PROFESSOR MARION NESTLE;
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-05-02-nestle-eating_x.htm
19. “Letter Writers Help Save Beloved Goats -
Planning Commission Will Issue A Use Permit So Pets Can Continue Living With
the Huntsinger Family” (El Cerrito Journal, April 21,
2006); story citing ROBERT MacCOUN.
1. “Children's Advocates Urge Help For HIV-Infected Youth” (US Fed News, May 26, 2006); story citing ANN VENEMAN (MPP 1970).
By Peter Heinlein
"In the 25 years since the start of the pandemic, the world has viewed HIV/AIDS primarily as a disease of adults," she said. "But because of AIDS, children are missing parents, missing teachers, missing treatment and care, missing protection, missing many things, except for the devastating effects of this disease."
VENEMAN noted that only one in 20 HIV-positive children receive the treatment they need. She appealed to people everywhere to recognize that children have the same right to treatment as adults, even though their needs might be different.
"We cannot assume that what works for adults will also work for children," she said. "Because we know that is not the case. For example, diagnosing infants is complicated, requiring special expertise and expensive equipment that is not widely available in the developing world. If we can't diagnose children, obviously we cannot treat them."…
[This story
also reported in The Mirror (Eire), The National Post (
2. “Different
Shade Of Green - DaimlerChrysler Trails Other Automakers In Hybrids But Is
Working On Alternatives” (
By Joe Guy Collier; Free Press Business Writer
With gas
prices soaring and interest growing in more fuel-efficient vehicles, the top
automakers in the
DaimlerChrysler
AG does not plan to have a hybrid passenger vehicle available in the
While
But in the meantime, gas-electric hybrids have become the hot technology because they offer increased fuel efficiency without the need for new infrastructure. Hybrid owners can fill the tank at the gas station and the car recharges the electric battery.
Hybrids are the bridge between gas-powered engines and hydrogen fuel cells, said ROLAND HWANG, VEHICLES POLICY DIRECTOR IN THE SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY GROUP.
The sales figures may be small now, but it's important to be in the market early, he said. Other automakers already are building their brand image with consumers and perfecting the technology through real-world driving while DaimlerChrysler is still in the lab.
"They're
10 years behind
3. “Schools Consider K-8 to Combat Dropout Rates. Controversial Solution” (ABC7 TV News, May 16, 2006); story citing GOLDMAN SCHOOL STUDY co-authored by MICHAEL LINDEN (MPP cand. 2007), LAUREL SIPES (MPP cand. 2007), BRIAN PICK (MPP cand. 2007), MICHAEL SMITH (MPP cand. 2007), LESLIE HALL (MPP cand. 2007), http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=education&id=4179232
By Lyanne Melendez
Would your child do better in class if he or she stayed in the same school from Kindergarten through eighth grade? That's the idea being considered by the West Contra Costa School Board Wednesday. Educators there think it may be the key to attracting kids and keeping kids in the district….
Karen Shebek, parent: "K through 8 schools show better attendance rates, fewer discipline issues, some positive academic benefits, math scores are known to be a little higher in K - 8."
At issue is the performance of the district's middle schools. Parents are not satisfied with test scores.
Board member Dave Brown says that's one reason the district is losing students.
Dave Brown, school board member: "We have about six schools that have over 30 percent attrition rate from when they leave the elementary to go to the middle. Those are kids we can get back into our district if we do this."
The school board commissioned a STUDY BY [GRAD STUDENTS OF] THE UC BERKELEY GOLDMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY.
The study released just last month showed the district is under-enrolled by 3,200 students in the elementary and middle school levels. That's $16 million dollars the district could be getting from the state….
4. “East Bay Roundup: K-8 Schools Voted Down” (Contra Costa Times [*requires registration], May 19, 2006); story citing GOLDMAN SCHOOL STUDY co-authored by MICHAEL LINDEN (MPP cand. 2007), LAUREL SIPES (MPP cand. 2007), BRIAN PICK (MPP cand. 2007), MICHAEL SMITH (MPP cand. 2007), LESLIE HALL (MPP cand. 2007); http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/email/news/14617899.htm
By Shirley Dang
Board members Dave Brown and Glen Price voted for the proposal. Board members Karen Pfeifer, Karen Leong Fenton and board President Charles Ramsey voted against the proposal, objecting to the potential cost and adverse effects on middle schools.
According to a report by PUBLIC POLICY STUDENTS FROM UC BERKELEY, K-8 schools could help retain students lost to private schools and other districts and possibly raise achievement. They estimate that switching to the new grade configuration would cost about $160,000 a year for each campus.
However, that figure does not include any renovations for adding gyms or science labs typical at a middle school campus. Opponents said doing so would cost too much and use construction bond funds already earmarked to fix other campuses….
5. “Early signs point to smooth budget. Assembly speaker, legislative analyst see hope for a quick deal on the spending plan” (Sacramento Bee, May 16, 2006); story citing ELIZABETH HILL (MPP 1975); http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14255874p-15071049c.html
By Andy Furillo -- Bee Capitol Bureau
Signaling a quick resolution to the state budget, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez said Monday that "we're very close" to a deal, and the nonpartisan legislative analyst congratulated Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for presenting a revised spending plan last week that contains "a number of positive features."
Núñez, D-
But in a news conference the speaker held in his office, and in a report the analyst issued on Schwarzenegger's revised budget, all indications from the speaker and HILL were for a spending agreement that will come sooner rather than later….
HILL's office, meanwhile, haggled with the governor over which debts to repay and when, and she told reporters afterward that the administration should hold off on new education programs and instead put more of the state's revenue windfall into shoring up financially shaky school districts.
But even though "we have some hard lifting to do" to smooth out the coming budgetary years, HILL said the bottom line on the budget is that it includes $7.5 billion in unanticipated revenues that figure to make this year's budgetary choices a little less onerous.
"We
think it's extraordinary good news with the positive revenue
developments," HILL said. "But we think it's still really important
for the state of
HILL also recommended that Schwarzenegger rethink his idea to pay down the voter-approved 2004 economic recovery bonds by $1 billion in 2009 and instead use that new revenue to cut into the projected budget shortfalls of 2007-08 and 2008-09, or even put it into reserve, "given the amount of risks and pressures that the state is facing."…
6. “Attacks on aid workers 'unacceptable': UNICEF's VENEMAN” (Agence France Presse, May 14, 2006); story citing ANN VENEMAN (MPP 1970).
UNICEF head
ANN VENEMAN called violence against aid workers unacceptable Saturday after an Afghan
driver and a doctor were killed in a rocket attack on their UNICEF vehicle in
"Any threat to the safety of humanitarian workers around the world is unacceptable," she said in a statement.
"We grieve at the loss of life, and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of those who were killed and injured," VENEMAN said.
"We rely on the understanding that we do our work to save lives and the presumption that goodwill will protect our staff," the statement said.
"This is the second time in eight days that UNICEF staff have been attacked in the course of their work," she said.
Last week, a
UNICEF staff member was seriously injured by a gunman in eastern
7. “Solution or Distraction? An Ethanol Reality Check” (New York Times, May 14, 2006); story citing ROLAND HWANG (MPP 1992).
By Jim Motavalli
Ethanol is on
a roll, increasingly promoted as a homegrown alternative to oil from the
Q. Could we actually replace fossil fuel with biofuel?
A. Environmentalists have grand visions for biofuels. ROLAND HWANG, VEHICLES POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL, says the group's research shows that by 2050, biofuels could replace gasoline if cars were also made more fuel-efficient and a program of "smart growth," reducing the need to drive long distances, was put in place….
8. “State budget: Governor pumps up spending. Economic boom enables state to restore school funds” (Sacramento Bee, May 13, 2006); story citing MIKE GENEST (MPP 1980); http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/v-print/story/14254948p-15070403c.html
By Andy Furillo -- Bee Capitol Bureau
He proposed to restore billions in school funding, allocate billions more to pay down the state's debt, kick in $400 million in new money to fight bird flu and even set aside some cash in the reserve for state worker raises.
But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger still came in for a few knocks Friday when he unveiled his revised $131.1 billion budget proposal - for directing sales tax money on gasoline away from public transit and for leaving hundreds of thousands of poor kids without health insurance.
Schwarzenegger
fended off the budget criticism by saying that even though
Meanwhile, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE MIKE GENEST said that an unspecified portion of the $1.6 billion in new spending earmarked to beef up the state's reserve fund to $2.2 billion is available for pay raises for tens of thousands of state workers whose unions are currently negotiating or are about to negotiate new contracts.
"We think we've accounted for that adequately," GENEST said. Citing the ongoing contract talks, GENEST declined to say exactly how much the state intends to spend to increase the pay of the state's rank-and-file workers, some of whom have gone three years without a raise….
[“2006-07 Budget Revision Analysis with Dept. of Finance Director MICHAEL GENEST” - press conference was broadcast on CalChannel TV, May 15, 2006; Mike’s presentation followed Governor Schwarzenegger’s remarks (23:38); watch the webcast at: http://www.calchannel.com/search.php?date=051206&source=All&type=All&title=&Search=Submit ]
9. “Prop. 82: Initiative backers threaten Gap boycott” (Sacramento Bee, May 12, 2006); story citing BuyBlue.org , co-founded by MARTHA TURE (MPP 2004); http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/v-print/story/14254500p-15070065c.html
By Laura Mecoy -- Bee
The Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees sent a letter last week threatening a national boycott of all of the Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic stores.
They said they would launch the boycott if the Gap, its affiliates or any members of the family that founded the Gap donated to groups opposing [the] preschool initiative, Proposition 82.
"It is
our hope that you come to the conclusion that opposing preschool for every
child in
In their letter, they cited a $25,000 donation made by John Fisher, one of the sons of the Gap's founders, to one group fighting Proposition 82.
They also cited a second organization opposing the initiative, the California Business Roundtable, saying the Gap is a "leading member" of it….
Proposition 82's backers have been trying to make an issue of the Fisher family donations for months by distributing leaflets at Gap stores around the state….
Since the leafleting began, none of the campaigns opposing the initiative has reported any contributions from the Fishers. But other business leaders have given large sums to the "No on 82" campaign.
Boycotts have long been a tool of labor unions and other organizations seeking to influence corporate behavior on issues ranging from working conditions to politics….
There's even a Web site, www.buyblue.org [co-founded by MARTHA TURE], that seeks to sort the corporate world into those supporting Democrats and those backing Republicans….
10. “County At The Crossroads Tough Decisions, Limited Choices Airport on auction block? Officials consider sale or lease to lift county's sagging finances” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 12, 2006); story citing STEVE AGOSTINI (MPP 1986).
By Larry Sandler and Dave Umhoefer; Staff;
With
A resolution
to study the concept of leasing the airport to a private operator could reach a
One question that the study would need to answer: How to disconnect the airport from the rest of the county’s financial structure….
Cash flow is also a concern. Airport Director C. Barry Bateman’s notes of a Jan. 19 meeting… show fears that if the county couldn’t use airport revenue to cover cash flow gaps, it would "accelerate our decline into bankruptcy."
Bateman’s notes don’t say who that quote came from…, but he noted COUNTY BUDGET CHIEF STEVE AGOSTINI was doing most of the talking.
AGOSTINI said, "I don’t think I said ‘bankruptcy,’ but we were already at a very significant precipice, and that would push us over the edge."
Without the airport fund to cover general-fund shortfalls, the county could be forced into short-term borrowing that could lower its bond rating, he said….
11. “Milwaukee County Leaders must head off fiscal disaster” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 7, 2006); editorial citing STEVE AGOSTINI (MPP 1986).
By Resler; Staff;
Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker says the wolf is at the county’s door. Is he being melodramatic?
Probably so, according to a monthlong Journal Sentinel investigation of the county’s financial situation. Talk about insolvency, for instance, is a reach -- bankruptcy is not a legal option -- and the county still has plenty of ways to raise money to pay its bills, Journal Sentinel reporters Dave Umhoefer and Avrum D. Lank discovered.
But while the wolf may not be prowling the steps of the Courthouse, it is clearly in the vicinity…. Without bold steps and aggressive political leadership on all levels -- not just the county but, equally important, the state -- the county is sure to face a fiscal crisis more severe than most people might now imagine. It will not be enough for county and state elected officials to vigorously grab the reins at their own end. They must also pull in the same direction.
The problem is so grave that Walker and STEVE AGOSTINI, HIS BUDGET DIRECTOR, recently gathered some of the county’s top administrators to wrestle with all of the possible ugly options, including handing off to other agencies a number of county services, from operation of the zoo, parks and senior centers to providing health services for the poor….
The numbers
being bandied around by the
12. “Unity Is Urged on Chemical Policy in State. Industry leaders and others weigh how best to respond to calls for lawmakers to give the public more protection from toxic compounds” (Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2006); story citing study co-authored by DANIEL CHIA (MPP 2004) and BRYAN EHLERS (MPP 2004); http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-chemical11may11,0,6118965.story?coll=la-home-business
By Marla Cone, Times Staff Writer
Leaders of California's chemical companies gathered Wednesday in Los Angeles to discuss how best to respond to growing pressure to develop a new state policy that would provide the public more protection from toxic compounds in consumer products and the environment.
The chemical industry forum was spurred by a UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA REPORT [co-authored by DANIEL CHIA and BRYAN EHLERS], released to the state Legislature in March, that advises California to adopt a comprehensive policy because the public is inadequately protected from toxic compounds that are amassing in people's bodies and the environment.
John Ulrich, a senior consultant to the Chemical Industry Council of California, called the report a "call to action" for businesses and urged them to act now to help craft a state strategy for regulating chemicals. About 100 industry representatives, from industrial giants such as Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co. to small biotech firms, attended the forum….
People are exposed to hundreds of chemicals in consumer products and in the environment, some of which have been linked to cancer, reproductive damage or altered hormones. Many chemicals are known to accumulate in human tissue, and many can cross into the womb and build up in breast milk….
The UC
REPORT, commissioned by two state Senate and Assembly committees, concluded
that "a modern, comprehensive chemicals policy is essential to placing
The state Senate's Committee on Environmental Quality is planning to lead efforts that could reform chemical policies….
Environmentalists
commended the
13. “County's rising chemical content spurs quest for tighter controls” (Copley News Service, May 10, 2006); story citing study co-authored by DANIEL CHIA (MPP 2004) and BRYAN EHLERS (MPP 2004); http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060510/news_1n10chemical.html
By Mike Lee
Locally and worldwide, scientists have found that chemicals are widespread in the environment.
For example, a new study in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Science and Technology shows the vast majority of triclocarban - a common antiseptic agent in soaps - ends up in sewage sludge. Much of this sludge is used as fertilizers, spreading the compound into the soil….
Health professionals, consumer advocates and others have long harbored fears about the profusion of chemicals. Their concerns were captured in a March report [co-authored by DANIEL CHIA and BRYAN EHLERS] that urged the state Legislature to take a more aggressive role in regulating chemicals.
Today's
conference in
He plans to
say that
Also on the
agenda is Robert Donkers, environment counselor for
the Delegation of the European Commission to the
"It's about time that the chemical industry learns that (it) should be responsible for (its) products, not the government," Donkers said….
14. “'Green chemistry' forum focuses on California report” (Chemical News & Intelligence, May 9, 2006); story citing study co-authored by DANIEL CHIA (MPP 2004) and BRYAN EHLERS (MPP 2004).
The report
was commissioned by the California Senate and was issued in March. It calls
upon the state to adopt a comprehensive chemicals policy that would correct
alleged data, safety and technology gaps that exist within federal
environmental statutes such as the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. The
federal law was intended to enable regulation of chemicals before and after
they enter commerce, with an inventory that lists 81,600 chemicals that are
registered for commerce in the
CICC
consultant John Ulrich said on Tuesday the purpose of the forum is
educational…. "Our industry in
15. “California 'green chemistry' plan draws criticism” (Chemical News & Intelligence, May 10, 2006); story citing study co-authored by DANIEL CHIA (MPP 2004) and BRYAN EHLERS (MPP 2004).
Los Angeles, California (ICIS news)--Chemical producers questioned on Wednesday whether a California "green chemistry" proposal [co-authored by DANIEL CHIA and BRYAN EHLERS] was workable in light of global economics and environmental practices in other countries.
Michael
Wilson, principal author of a
"The
policy is not about disadvantaging our producers ... it is about developing
long-term sustainability,"
16. “
By Jennifer Oldham, Times Staff Writer
In a state prone to fires, floods and earthquakes, which has more vehicles on the road than any other and ever-escalating home values, the job of policing its $119-billion insurance industry is crucial to Californians' pocketbooks.
Voters will go to the polls this fall to elect the state's fifth insurance commissioner since Proposition 103 was approved in 1988....
Changes in workers' compensation law will also be on the new commissioner's plate, specifically the debate among Democratic legislators, unions and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over how to fine-tune laws that overhauled the insurance system. The laws were an attempt to stop increases in premiums that forced many companies to leave the state....
"I think
that it's hard to deny that the reforms have been a big success in terms of reducing
the costs of workers' comp," said FRANK NEUHAUSER, A WORKERS' COMPENSATION
EXPERT AT UC BERKELEY'S
But unions believe the reforms went too far, reducing permanent disability payments for some workers by up to 70% because a new rate schedule was unclear about how workers should be compensated for different injuries, NEUHAUSER said.
17. “As Gas Prices Climb, So Do The SUV Deals - Automakers Hope Steep Incentives Enough To Counteract Pump Woes, Keep Buyers Coming Back” (Charlotte Observer, May 6, 2006); story citing ROLAND HWANG (MPP 1992).
By Mike Drummond and Andrew Shain
As a tire changer for NASCAR team Evernham Motorsports, Chuck Efaw was eligible for an employee discount on the 2006 Jeep Commander he'd been eyeing.
But what sealed the deal was an offer available to everyone: no-interest financing for five years and zero payments for six months.
"You just pay for the car - no interest to anybody," he said.
Automakers are looking to people like Efaw to keep the sport utility vehicle market humming. This week, dealers with swelling inventories began offering another round of rebates and incentives on certain SUVs.
Overall SUV sales have faced an uphill climb as gas prices have remained stubbornly high this year….
The [sales] incentives are reminiscent of price wars last year, when automakers extended employee discounts and other goodies to consumers. From a pure purchase-price perspective, dealers say, it's a great time to buy new sport utility vehicles. But the naysayers, and there are plenty when it comes to SUVs, warn about the costs down the road at the gas pump and to the ozone layer….
While incentives may lower the purchase price, higher gas prices impose a form of user tax, said ROLAND HWANG, VEHICLES POLICY DIRECTOR AT THE NATIONAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL.
SUV drivers would spend about $900 more a year on gas than would drivers of a typical midsize car, he said….
18. “Electric Car Drivers, Start Your Engines. Your Ride Is Now Legal In Minnesota, And That's Good News For Princeton Maker” (St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 5, 2006); story citing ROLAND HWANG (MPP 1992).
By Charles Laszewski, Pioneer Press
Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed a bill Thursday making it legal to drive a slow, electric car on city streets. But who would want to?
Pawlenty and several legislators touted the bill as an energy conservation option, as well as a boost for a local manufacturer of the cars. E-ride Industries of Princeton, Minn., makes cars that can travel 55 miles on their batteries and hit a top speed of 25 mph.
While that works out to less than 2 cents a mile, the list price is $15,000. Plus, all the gas-powered cars would be lined up behind the electric one going at least 10 mph slower than most city speed limits.
Pawlenty and the legislators extolled the cars' strengths,
namely that they don't consume foreign oil, they don't emit any pollution and
the car factories in Pierz and
… Most of the
sales have been to government fleets, such as Sandia National Laboratories in
"It's been pretty good for that kind of use," Schiller said. "It's been pretty economical for us."
The United States needs "as many options as possible," to cut the amount of gasoline it burns, said ROLAND HWANG, VEHICLE POLICY DIRECTOR FOR NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL.
"What we found is people didn't like going to the gas station, even before $3.20-a-gallon gas," HWANG said. "They didn't like the smell; they didn't like spilling gas on their clothes. People love the convenience of plugging it in at home and not paying the gas companies."…
19.
“Malnutrition kills 10 children every minute, says UN” (The Independent (
By Maxine Frith - Social Affairs Correspondent
Ten children die every minute as a result of malnutrition, more than a quarter of children in developing countries are underweight and suffer disease because of their poor diet, and in some areas almost half of all under-fives are malnourished, a new United Nations report says.
Unicef warns that the slow progress on reducing nutritional problems among children means that several key Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets may now be missed. ANN VENEMAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNICEF, said: "The lack of progress to combat malnutrition is damaging children and nations. Few things have more impact than nutrition on a child's ability to survive, learn effectively and escape a life of poverty."
The first MDG, agreed by the world's leaders, pledged to halve the proportion of people who suffer from hunger by 2015. Ms VENEMAN added: "We still have time to achieve this goal, but only if the international community acts now to deliver the commitments and resources it has promised."
The Unicef report found that 146 million children under five in
the developing world are suffering from insufficient food intake, repeated
infectious diseases, muscle wastage and vitamin deficiencies. While some countries,
notably
[This story also reported in numerous other venues, including: The Mirror (UK), The Guardian Unlimited (UK), 5-Day News (broadcast on KMTP-TV, May 19, 2006).]
20. “
Do you know someone with HIV?
Even if you think the answer is no, you probably do -- but either the person does not know that he or she has the virus or has not confided in you about it.
An estimated three to four million South Africans are living with HIV without knowing it.
Moreover, about half of those who said in the latest national survey that they were safe from HIV already had the virus….
A false sense of security about not contracting HIV, on the one hand, or fear of already being infected, on the other, are major barriers to HIV testing.
Two-thirds of participants in the 2005 survey had never had an HIV test. Their reasons included: Not believing they were at risk or HIV-positive; Trusting their partners; Being afraid of finding out their status; and Not being ready to test.
"Less than 1% were concerned about lack of confidentiality, stigma, job loss or standard of service," the survey by the Human Sciences Research Council found.
DR DAVID HARRISON, CEO of Aids awareness organisation loveLife, said: "People don't think they are at risk and so they have no incentive to get tested.
"The first step to behaviour change is understanding risk; the second step deciding the risk is not worth taking," he said.
For this reason one of loveLife's campaigns links HIV to life events when individuals could be motivated to have an HIV test, for example, being pregnant.
21. “Post-partum
blues - Mom of toddler born in
By GARANCE BURKE - Associated Press
Myrna Dick is desperate for her young son to take a nap, so she cajoles him with soft Spanish phrases.
"Vete a dormir, mijo," she says, telling Zachary to sleep as he fumbles for Teddy Grahams. "Take the bear in your arms and the two of you go lie down."
It's a suburban life, in a place that hosts fishing derbies and Easter egg hunts and calls itself the "Garden Spot of the State." But it's a life that Zachary, snug in his cornflower-colored jumpsuit, was nearly denied.
In 2004, the
government tried to deport Myrna Dick. It charged that she once lied to gain
entry to the
But Myrna was
pregnant, and a federal judge in
Until Zachary was born.
After that,
immigration officials reasserted their claims. In February, a federal appeals
court gave immigration officials the right to bar the 31-year-old mother from
the
This time,
the family's case is attracting the attention of prominent legislators who say
it symbolizes the contradictions of the broken
"Illegal immigration is deeply intertwined within our households and communities," former INS Commissioner Doris Meissner said. "A family like this is an illustration of literally millions of people in the country today."…
When lawyers from the Department of Justice appealed the district judge's ruling, the government selected less than half of the 424 pages of documents [in Myrna’s file] to send to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as evidence.
In February, a three-judge panel ruled a set of fingerprints labeled "Ivette Trevizo-Frias" were identical to fingerprints attached to one of the alien ID numbers linked to Myrna's name.
Such administrative disarray, Meissner said, only underscores the challenges the government will face if Congress approves new amnesty or guest-worker laws. The disorganized state of many immigration records and the multiple aliases adopted by many border crossers can make it practically impossible to determine how many times a given person has entered the country….
Abortion rights advocates who normally find themselves opposing any opinion or law that expands the rights of a fetus now find themselves sympathizing with an evangelical Christian woman who was instrumental in just such a case.
"First a
judge declares there is some right of personhood attached to this fetus,"
said Pamela Sumners, the executive director of NARAL
Pro-Choice in
[This story was widely distributed: Boston Globe, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Long Beach Press, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Deseret News, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Daily Breeze Torrance, et al.]
22. “
She was referring to reporting of the Jacob Zuma rape trial, saying the media had "sensationalised" Zuma's statements on HIV-Aids without putting across the government's policy.
"You are making my task difficult. You are misleading the people, and it hurts," said Tshabalala-Msimang.
However, loveLife, the Gender Aids Forum and Engender said the media had highlighted the shortcomings in the government's response and had re-ignited public debate on the issue.
The CEO of loveLife, DR DAVID HARRISON, said the media's posters and headlines had reinforced the inaccurate statements made by Zuma in court. [In his testimony, Zuma said he had showered to minimise the risk of contracting HIV/Aids after having unprotected sex with the HIV-positive woman who has accused him of rape.]
However, [
"The
type of myths and inaccuracies expressed in court are typical of the dilemmas
we face in
Last week he called for "damage control" after Zuma's statements….
23. “Readiness key to avian flu. Community response is focus of officials” (Denver Post, April 17, 2006); story citing TIM UYEKI (MPP 1985).
By Marsha
Austin,
The first
line of defense against a pandemic flu outbreak in
That is the
message state public-health officials are sending as they prepare for the
possibility of
If a human strain of the disease surfaces, the key to containing it will be limiting human contact. The buzz phrase is "social distancing."…
Even if
scientists can create a vaccine against a mutated strain of the virus now found
in wild bird populations, it would take a year to produce mass quantities, said
TIM UYEKI OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION in
Since the
virus surfaced in Southeast Asia in 2003, it has spread across Asia and into
parts of Europe and
State
wildlife experts say migrating birds could bring the virus to
So far, there have been reports of 194 human cases, resulting in 109 deaths. Most confirmed cases of avian flu in humans have come from close contact with infected birds.
The danger of a pandemic among humans would come if the virus mutated so it easily passed from person to person, UYEKI said….
24. “Study of statutory rape finds leniency” (The Providence Journal, December 9, 2005); story citing study by ROSS CHEIT (MPP 1980).
By Scott MacKay, Journal Staff Writer
The study of
all 403 statutory rape cases that came to
The study found that a surprisingly large percentage of defendants were "much older" than their victims, which CHEIT says punctures a common view of statutory rape as "criminalizing young love."
Even in cases of young defendants -- 18- and 19-year-olds -- the charges often included allegations of physical force and coercion, CHEIT said….
"Contrary to the popular conception of statutory rape, this study found that there were significantly fewer teenage defendants than there were defendants 35 and older," stated the report. "Although those in the oldest age group were more likely to be incarcerated than the average for defendants overall, the majority avoided prison entirely. Even the oldest group experienced high dismissal rates and generally lenient sentences."
About 80 percent of defendants were at least four years older than their victims, according to the data in the report. Roughly one-third of defendants were 30 or older -- at least twice the age of their victims.
While the study found evidence of leniency, CHEIT said, it turned up little evidence of overzealous prosecution. One of the recommendations is that the state study taking age differences more seriously and establishing tougher penalties for cases that involve violence or coercion.
CHEIT said that sexual assault cases in general are "vastly underreported," and that is also true for statutory rape. "Cases involving adolescents have additional personal, family, parental and confidentiality issues that make public admission of sexual activity difficult. Many teens do not feel they can find justice, especially when issues of willing participation may be hazy. Public education may be the most effective way of addressing that issue."…
1. “For
By David Lazarus
Former Enron overlords Kenneth Lay and
Jeffrey Skilling are going to jail because they
defrauded investors and lied about their financial shenanigans. But for
millions of
LORETTA LYNCH, who served as president of
the California Public Utilities Commission during the energy crisis, shared
this sentiment. Now she teaches at UC BERKELEY and is writing a book about her
experience as the state's top energy cop.
"I'm glad they got convicted,"
LYNCH said. "But they're still shirking their responsibility to
2. “Fate of world climate lies with
By Ian Hoffman, Staff Writer
If energy and economic trends persist,
scientists say, two nations are likely to decide the climate for the whole
planet.
So far, the
If those coal plants and hundreds more
planned are run for their full lifetimes --
"If we get it wrong, there's almost no
hope that the rest of the world can overcome our errors," physicist Peter
Schwartz told
Energy experts said the obvious first step
for both nations would not require new technologies such as radical new solar
cells, hydrogen cars or the capture and underground injection of carbon dioxide
but simply to stop wasting energy.
"What this tells me is the opportunity
for
[Another story on this topic appeared on
<a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=business&id=4200053">KGO-TV (ABC Channel 7)</a>]
3. “Proposition 82: Universal Preschool”
(Forum, KQED-FM 88.5, May 25, 2006); features commentary by DAVID KIRP; listen
to the program at: http://www.kqed.org/pgmArchive/RD19
Forum discusses Proposition 82, which would
provide universal preschool in
4. “Corporate
Congress is working to forge a combined
pension overhaul and tax cut package before Memorial Day recess. Commentator
Robert Reich says there's one thing everyone should agree on: Require companies
to honor pension obligations.
5. “Rivals tout city experience when
challenging an icon” (Contra Costa Times [*requires registration], May 20,
2006; story citing HENRY BRADY; http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/email/news/14627572.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
By Chris Metinko,
Contra Costa Times
For nearly three decades, Ron Dellums was the embodiment of Bay Area politics. A leading liberal
voice in Congress who pushed for ending the Vietnam War and apartheid in
"You could call him a Bay Area
political icon without much disagreement," said HENRY BRADY, PROFESSOR OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE AT UC
6. “ROBERT REICH and Steve Moore discuss
immigration and offshore natural gas drilling” (Kudlow
& Company, CNBC News, May 19, 2006); features commentary by ROBERT REICH.
LARRY KUDLOW, host:
On this evening's program, we begin with the
number one hot-button political issue out of
So, Steve Moore, let me begin with you. This
was a dicey vote, 50-to-49. If illegal immigrants are legalized, they will get
their back Social Security benefits as I understand it. Are you in favor of
this amendment?
Mr. STEVEN MOORE: No, I'm not, Larry. I'm
very much in favor of immigration. But I don't think that illegal immigrants
should be rewarded for the time they were working in the United States when
they were illegal, and I think when you talk about the fact that illegal
immigrants do collect public benefits, it seems fair to me that they should
help pay for them. And so I do not think they should be eligible for Social
Security until they start working here legally.
KUDLOW: You know, ROBERT REICH, that sounds
a little mean, nasty and brutish to me. That's a famous
Mr. ROBERT REICH: It sounds mean, nasty and
brutish to me as well, Larry. I'll tell you, it's not an easy question, not an
easy case, but if these people are legalized, now we're talking about people who
at some point become legal citizens, and the question is should their Social
Security payments that they made into the Social Security system be available
to them, and I say if they are fully legalized at some point, why not? …I mean,
they … paid into the Social Security system, and it seems only fair….
KUDLOW: All right, now, I ask you, isn't it
an outrage that the House voted to keep the ban on offshore drilling? ….Bob
Reich, why shouldn't we drill for the outer continental shelf. We have more
natural gas out there than
Mr. REICH: Well, Larry, the interesting
thing about this issue to me is that it wasn't a Republican vs. Democratic
issue today. It was not environmentalists vs. the energy industry, it actually
was the tourist industry vs. the energy industry. It was the coastal tourist
industry people who said, ‘No, we don't want our people to have to look at oil
wells and oil rigging and natural gas rigging. That's going to hurt the tourist
industry.’
Now I agree with you, logically the outer
continental shelf areas, where--far from the possibility of oil spills, far
from tourists, tourism, we ought to be able to drill there. But it seems like
this is an all-or-nothing issue….
…I thought the most important thing that has
happened over the last couple of days is the Senate and I think the House also
saying, `We are going to try to take away those leases, those subsidized leases
on the continental shelf, we're not going to subsidize the oil companies
anymore. We're going to let the free market try and start to work….
7. “Another tax cut for the rich?” - commentary by ROBERT REICH (Marketplace, American Public
Media, May 17, 2006); listen to this commentary at: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/05/17/PM200605176.html
President Bush signed the $70 billion tax
cut into law today -- and Congress is looking at cutting another $23 billion.
Commentator and former Labor Secretary Robert Reich wonders why we keep cutting
taxes when we're spending so much money.
BY ROBERT REICH
OK. So here we are six months before a
mid-term election with polls showing only about 20 percent of the American
public approving the job Congress is doing. Meanwhile, the federal budget
deficit is still out of control. We've got a war going on, with military
spending over half a trillion dollars a year. All sorts of public services are
being slashed. So what are we getting out of this Congress? A $70 billion tax
cut. Now, it would be one thing if this tax cut would go to middle-income
workers now facing sky-high fuel prices and soaring health insurance costs and
variable rate mortgage payments heading through the roof. But this tax cut is
not going to the middle class….
ROBERT REICH IS A PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY
AT THE
8. “Cargill, ADM Differ in Food - Fuel
Debate” (New York Times Online [*requires registration], May 16, 2006); story
citing DAN KAMMEN; http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Food-vs-Fuel.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print
By The Associated Press
Archer Daniels Midland Co., by far the
country's largest ethanol producer, has taken an aggressive approach to biofuels including ethanol and biodiesel.
Cargill Inc. has been more restrained, though it's hardly sitting on the
sidelines....
Minnetonka-based Cargill raised the
food-versus-fuel issue earlier this month. As he laid out a broad vision of
Cargill's business on a changing global playing field, Warren Staley, its
chairman and CEO, told a gathering of business writers here that he saw
producing food as the most important task for agriculture....
DANIEL KAMMEN, DIRECTOR OF THE RENEWABLE AND
APPROPRIATE ENERGY LABORATORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
''A richer farm sector is going to make us
more secure, it's going to make more food available,'' KAMMEN said....
[This story appeared in dozens of news
outlets nationwide, including the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2006/05/16/financial/f111439D62.DTL&type=printable">San Francisco Chronicle</a>, <a
href="http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/14593052.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp">San Jose Mercury News</a>, and
<a href="http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/community/14598940.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp">Contra Costa Times</a>]
9. “'Morehouse Man' defiant in face of
negative stats among peers” (San Jose Mercury News [*requires registration],
May 12, 2006); story citing STEVEN RAPHAEL; http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/14566264.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp
By Errin Haines, Associated
Press
They would become Morehouse Men - confident,
committed and compelled to make a difference in the world - and will stand as a
testament to the pride and achievement of all black men. On Sunday, they will
be more than 540 strong, the largest graduating class in the 139-year history
of
A series of recent studies with depressing
results bemoaned the national plight of black men, including "Black Males
Left Behind," published this year. Among the findings in that survey, the
relationship between lack of education and incarceration and unemployment rates
is staggering, said CO-AUTHOR STEVEN RAPHAEL, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY.
The study showed of black men between ages
18 and 25 who dropped out of high school, only 27 percent were employed in
2000, compared to 50 percent in 1970. Of that same pool, only 8 percent were
incarcerated in 1970, versus 23 percent today....
[This story also appeared in the<a
href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/20/AR2006052000547_pf.html">Washington
Post</a>, and <a
href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2006/05/20/national/a095056D98.DTL&type=printable">San Francisco Chronicle</a>]
10. “Will the Internet stay fast and cheap?”
- Commentary by ROBERT REICH (Marketplace, American Public Media, May 10,
2006); listen to this commentary at: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/05/10/AM200605101.html
Commentator ROBERT REICH argues the very
idea of a democratic Internet is threatened by the so-called net neutrality bill
working its way through Congress.
ROBERT REICH: On one side are the companies
that pipe the Internet into our homes and businesses -- phone companies like
AT&T and Verizon, cable companies like Comcast. Let's call them the pipe
companies.
On other side are the people and companies
that send Internet content through the pipes. Some are big outfits like Yahoo,
Google and Amazon or Bank of America and Citigroup, and media companies pumping
in movies and TV shows. But most are little guys: Mom-and-pop operations
specializing in antique egg-beaters or Brooklyn Dodger memorabilia, anarchists,
kooks, zealots, personal publishers and gazillions of bloggers
including my humble little blog and maybe even yours.
Until now, a basic principle of the Internet
has been that the pipe companies cannot discriminate among content providers.
Everyone who puts stuff on the Internet -- no matter how big or powerful they
are -- is treated the same. It's called Internet democracy.
But now the pipe companies want to charge the
content providers depending how fast and reliably the content will be
delivered. That means that the big content providers will have to pay them lots
of money. And the little content people will be left in the slowest and
least-reliable pipes. Without net neutrality it will take you five minutes to
download my blog....
The bill to be voted on would, in effect,
give the pipe companies the green light to go ahead with their plans. But it
won't happen if the big content providers use their lobbying clout to demand
net neutrality....
Former U.S. Labor Secretary ROBERT REICH
TEACHES PUBLIC POLICY AT THE
11. “John Kenneth Galbraith Is Remembered as
a
By David Glenn
John Kenneth Galbraith, who died on April 29
at the age of 97, was one of the most prominent American economists of the 20th
century....
Liberal and left-wing economists --
including some whose assumptions and methods are very different from Mr.
Galbraith's -- looked to him as a champion. "I know that he was 97 years
old, but I cried this morning when I saw the news," said Herbert Gintis, a visiting professor at
ROBERT B. REICH, A PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC
POLICY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY, wrote in an e-mail message
to The Chronicle that Mr. Galbraith "melded real-world experience with
lofty theory, providing several generations of students and scholars with a
deeper understanding of the micro-organization of American society."...
Mr. Galbraith's curiosity led him to apply
for a graduate fellowship in agricultural economics at the
Mr. Gintis said
that Mr. Galbraith will probably be remembered as a sociologist of the economy,
in the tradition of Thorstein Veblen, rather than as
an economic theorist per se....
MR. REICH sounded a similar note, saying
that Mr. Galbraith "understood that economics is not a physical or
mathematical science, but a social science, closer to sociology and psychology than
to geometry or algebra."...
12. “ROBERT REICH and Steve Moore discuss
the Medicare drug benefit, global warming and Al Gore” (Kudlow
& Company, CNBC News, May 10, 2006); features commentary by ROBERT REICH.
LARRY KUDLOW, host:
…ROBERT REICH, former labor secretary, NOW
TEACHING AT U CAL BERKELEY. Steve Moore, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board.
Bob Reich, The New York Times, front page
today, of those who signed up [for the Medicare drug benefit], 42 percent say
that drug costs have declined. Only 19 percent say they've increased. That's
two to one. The Republicans going to steal the Democratic issue?
Mr. ROBERT REICH: Look, Larry, I don't care
who gets credit. If this works, that's great for seniors. The big concern that
I would have has to do with reaching what's called the edge of the doughnut
hole. That is when you basically use up about $2800 of your Medicare drug
benefit, a lot of seniors are going to get there before Election Day, and that
means you have nothing left. You're still paying insurance, you're still paying
premiums, but you have to pick up all of your drug costs. A lot of people are
going to be very upset when they find out that there's that big doughnut hole
and they could find out pretty soon….
[That doughnut hole] has to be filled simply
because you're going to have a huge number of seniors who reach the end of the
amount of money that they can actually get paid for their prescription drugs.
And that means they're going to have to... shell out the money for their
prescription drugs and at the same time, they're going to have to pay money for
the premium…. I think the big problem with this bill is that it prohibits the
federal government from using its bargaining leverage with the drug companies to
get drug prices down. And I think you want to unleash the free market and let
the federal government use its power.… Why not allow the federal government to
use its bargaining leverage? …
KUDLOW: All right. ROBERT REICH, it was your
magazine, the American Prospect, that's the first article I read about the Al
Gore revival. I think you have unleashed the genie and I want to ask you about
the genie and global warming.
Mr. REICH: Well, Larry, first of all, global
warming is a fact. …There's a lot of people still out there wanting to deny it,
but the overwhelming predominance of scientific opinion says that the globe is
warming and it's due to manmade causes. Even a Bush task force last week issued
its report to say that actually, global warming is a problem. Do we have to do
something about it? Absolutely. Do we have to sign the Kyoto Accord? Maybe not
exactly as it was but we probably have to join with other nations and do
something quite serious about it. Now, is Al Gore going to be a candidate? I
don't know. I don't know that he's made a decision. …He's speaking so freely
and so passionately. You know, some people say he's speaking too passionately
and too freely. I think the American public wants somebody who's going to be
absolutely honest and authentic and say what they believe and believe what they
say. I think he'd make a great candidate….
13. “Different views on gas prices”
(Monterey County Herald, May 9, 2006); story citing ROBERT REICH.
By Andre Briscoe
Two current political pundits, and former key
figures during two presidential administrations, discussed the sky-rocketing
price of gas, the war in
The prelude to the third installment of the
Leon Panetta Lecture Series was held at the Leon and Sylvia Panetta Institute
for Public Policy at CSU-Monterey Bay, and featured ROBERT REICH, secretary of
labor under President Clinton, and William Kristol,
chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle in the George H. Bush
administration and to Secretary of Education William Bennett in the Reagan
administration.
Kristol and REICH engaged in some predebate
sparring as each poked fun at the other's political leanings.
Kristol, a staunch Republican, told journalists in the
room that REICH had a lot of answering to do for his role in the
"Most Democrats were to the right of
me," REICH told the group, and while standing on a stool at the podium,
said it was the "first time I see eye-to-eye with him."
With that the afternoon opened with some
comments from REICH about the economic gap widening between the rich and the
poor.
"My great concern is that as
But Kristol called
the
"In spite of the price it's not as
devastating to the economy as it was in the late '70s," he said.
Both men agreed that little could be done
lower gas prices immediately, and REICH suggested that the higher gas prices climb
the more likely alternative fuel sources will be found….
REICH has written 10 books, including
bestsellers "The Future of Success" and "Locked in the
Cabinet." He has written articles for the New Yorker, New York Times,
Washington Post and Wall Street Journal and is cofounder of The American
Prospect magazine. HE IS PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AT THE
[The debate was also broadcast on Cable
Channel 26, May 21, 2006.]
14. “60 Minutes: The Ethanol Solution. Could
Corn-Based Fuel Help End
Reported by Dan Rather
(CBS) Gas prices are passing $3 a gallon and
climbing, oil companies are making record profits and there is serious concern
about this country’s dependence on foreign oil. Those things have sparked a lot
of talk about using something else, instead of oil, to fuel our cars.
As correspondent Dan Rather reports,
So, 60 Minutes wondered: Why can’t we do
that here in the
"Fifteen years ago
DR. KAMMEN watched
You might have noticed at your local gas
station that ethanol is already in the fuel…. Oil companies add some ethanol to
gas because it boosts octane. But using ethanol as an additive won’t replace
much foreign oil, unless Americans switch to what’s called "E85" --
85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gas.
But it's not a simple switch to make. Out of
about 170,000 gas stations in the
But PROFESSOR KAMMEN at
But some states, like
"The transition is pretty easy. It looks
like its $30,000 to $40,000 per gas station to change over and have
ethanol-dedicated pumps," he says.
"Are we talking three years? Five
years? 20 years?" Rather asked.
"I think it's less than that,
actually." KAMMEN replied. "I would bet that we will have enough
ethanol stations within two to three years' time, at most. The reason is that
the transition is so easy that doing the retrofit to have ethanol pumps
available can be done in a matter of weeks."...
15. “Speaker lauds PLU's
insight, vision” (Distributed by Knight/Ridder
Tribune News Service, May 6, 2006); story citing ROBERT REICH.
By David Wickert,
The News Tribune,
May 6--Forget the cartoon version of
globalization that pits "we" against "they." The
Speaking at
Instead, REICH said the nation and its
workers will benefit from a world in which complex supply chains depend more on
expertise than on cheap labor.
"Globalization makes us more and more
valuable because there's a greater market for our insights," REICH told
several hundred people gathered to dedicate the $21 million
REICH IS A PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AT THE
16. “Trade winds' slowdown backs warming
theory” (San Francisco Chronicle, May 4, 2006); story citing DAN KAMMEN; http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/05/04/MNG8CIKISS1.DTL
By Carl T. Hall, Chronicle Science Writer
Climate scientists have documented a
pronounced slowdown in the
Global warming theorists have long expected
to see a slowdown in this system, but until now had been unable to see
convincing evidence….
The scientists said the only explanation
that fit all the data was the temperature increase attributed to the release of
heat-trapping greenhouse gases, chiefly carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere….
Rising temperatures are said to cause more
water vapor to enter the lower atmosphere from the ocean ….The extra moisture
serves as a drag in the bottom of the system, leading to slower wind speeds.
Because ocean winds drive currents, Vecchi said one clear impact may be a reduced Pacific
upwelling, potentially reducing the biological productivity of ocean regions
affected.
As for the impact on land, it's anybody's
guess. One possibility may be generally wilder weather -- bigger storms, drier
droughts and stronger hurricanes feeding off the warmer, wetter tropical
Pacific.
"You are directly changing a basic
engine of weather and climate," said DANIEL KAMMEN, CO-DIRECTOR OF THE
INSTITUTE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AT UC BERKELEY. "The range of potential
effects is broad, and none of our climate models tells us what's unpredictable.
If you mess the system up too much, you will get surprises."…
17. “Lawyers, lobbyists wage search engine
wars” - commentary by ROBERT REICH (Marketplace, American Public Media, May 3, 2006); listen to this commentary at: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/05/03/PM200605034.html
Microsoft is trying to get ahead in the
search engine business by leaving Google out of its new browser. Commentator
Robert Reich says Google's fighting back, but not necessarily fighting fair.
BY ROBERT REICH
Google is playing politics. MSN handles
about 10 percent of Internet searches in the
Regardless of how many lobbyists and lawyers
it hires, as Google becomes the dominant operating system of the Internet, it
can find itself in the same antitrust hot water as Microsoft, whose Windows is
the dominant operating system of personal computing.
ROBERT REICH was secretary of labor for
President Clinton. HE IS NOW PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY AT THE
18. “'Aisle-by-Aisle': Cart strategy for
good eating” (USA Today, May 2, 2006); story about VISITING PROFESSOR MARION
NESTLE; http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-05-02-nestle-eating_x.htm
By
For years, she has hounded the food industry
about its unrelenting marketing strategies, which she detailed in her 2002
book, Food Politics. She challenged the government to protect the country's
food supply in her 2003 book, Safe Food....
NESTLE, WHO WAS A GUEST PROFESSOR THIS
SPRING AT [THE GOLDMAN SCHOOL AT] THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-BERKELEY,
doesn't want people to get her wrong. She loves to eat and she loves food, but
she says Americans must realize that supermarkets are set up to tempt them to buy
a lot of food....
[Mention of Professor Nestle also appeared
in Leah Garchik’s column in the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/05/03/DDGKAIHBTN1.DTL&type=printable">San Francisco Chronicle</a>]
19. “Letter Writers Help Save Beloved Goats
- Planning Commission Will Issue A Use Permit So Pets Can Continue Living With
the Huntsinger Family” (El Cerrito Journal, April 21,
2006); story citing ROBERT MacCOUN.
By Martin Snapp,
Staff Writer
Actually, they belong to her daughters,
15-year-old Genoa Starr and 16-year-old Carlin Starr….
Vlad is
On Wednesday,
"We were bombarded with letters, and
not a single one was a complaint," said Planning Manager Jennifer Carman.
"People just love those goats."…
Next-door neighbors LORI DAIR and ROBERT
MACCOUN added: "They also consume poison oak that would otherwise put our
children at risk. And our daughters, Madeline, 8, and Audrey, 4, adore the fact
that they can look out our balcony and see the goats grazing on the hill."
Madeline and Audrey are small enough to ride
on the goats' backs, which they do often. But their greatest thrill comes every
Halloween, when Vlad and Tinsel tow all the children
in the neighborhood from door to door in an Amish goat cart.
"The only problem is that the kids usually
refuse to get out of the cart, even to go trick-or-treating," said DAIR.
"When little kids would rather do something instead of getting candy, that
tells you a lot."…
Vlad and Tinsel will celebrate their victory by making
their annual appearance at UC Berkeley's Cal Day celebration Saturday, where
they will tow children around campus in their cart. As always, their horns will
be painted blue and gold for the occasion….
May 22
DAN KAMMEN spoke at the UCLA Public Affairs Society Panel: “How
technology and innovation can help - What we can do,” UCLA School of Public
Affairs.
May 20-22
STEVE MAURER spoke on “Security Self-Governance” at the Second
International Synthetic Biology Conference at UC Berkeley (SB2.0); http://pbd.lbl.gov/sbconf/
[A story about these leading scientists meeting in Berkeley to sign a
code of conduct as a first step towards self-policing what could be the most
powerful technology of recent decades was reported in The Guardian; http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/story/0,,1780301,00.html ]
May 23 & 24
DAN KAMMEN was featured speaker at The China-U.S. Climate Change Forum,
co-sponsored by the RICHARD & RHODA GOLDMAN FUND; http://chinausclimate.org/en/
May 23 & 24
DAN KAMMEN participated in the U. S. Senate roundtable, "Exploring
Greenhouse Gas Technologies," chaired by Senator Inhofe and Senator
Jeffords, of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee,
May 24
DAN KAMMEN testified on “Breaking the Oil Addiction: The Future of
Alternative Fuel Investment, Research and Funding in
To view a complete list of GSPP videos, visit our Events Archive at: /news-events/archive.html
Recent events viewable on UC Webcast: http://webcast.berkeley.edu/events/archive.php?select2=36
If you would like further information
about any of the above, or hard copies of cited articles, we'd be happy to
provide them.
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Director of External Relations and Development
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(This digest was edited by Theresa Wong)