The medical issue known as "scope of practice," in which who does what to whom is carefully proscribed, is back again, as an array of health care professionals seek to enter the turf now held by doctors. A round of major bills chipping away at the physicians' turf passed its first Assembly hurdle.
From the Press-Enterprise's Jim Miller: "The bills would allow optometrists, pharmacists and nurse practitioners to make diagnoses, prescribe drug treatments and perform some medical procedures, tasks that currently require a physician."
"But opponents, led by physician groups, said the proposals would put patients at risk and that there was no evidence the legislation would increase the number of health care professionals in areas with the greatest need."
"The California Medical Association and other physician organizations have said a better approach is to target more physicians at underserved areas through such efforts as loan-forgiveness programs and by opening UC Riverside’s school of medicine."
Speaking of scop of practice, the notion that lawmakers are involving themselves in medical issues may be cause for alarm.
From the Bee's Dan Walters: "We should be afraid because truly, the legislators who voted for the bills Monday, all Democrats, have absolutely no idea whether nurses, optometrists and pharmacists are qualified by dint of their training to perform the medical duties that the legislation would allow."
"The physicians who oppose the bills question their readiness to diagnose and treat medical maladies – even prescribing drugs in the case of nurse-practitioners – but by approving the bills, members of the committee are overriding those concerns and, implicitly, concluding that the doctors are just trying to protect their turf and their incomes."
"When life-and-death issues are being decided on the basis of political pull, we should all be afraid."
Garbage in, garbage out -- and in this case, "out" means down to the O.C.
From the Valley Tribune's Steve Scauzillo: "Garbage from Los Angeles County that normally reaches its final resting place in the largest landfill in the country, just south of the 60 Freeway near Hacienda Heights, will soon be taking a slightly more circuitous route."
"Instead, household waste from many of the county's 88 cities will end up in Orange County."
"The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County last week signed a contract to begin shipping waste to the Olinda Alpha Landfill near Brea starting the end of October, the day after the Puente Hills Landfill closes. The vast majority of residents within the county won't notice any difference after the Puente Hills Landfill closes. However, the people of North Whittier, Avocado Heights and the tiny communities of Gladstone, Bassett and Pellisier Village say they will notice the difference and they don't like it one bit."
It seems like it's never a smooth ride for California's bullet-train, whether the hits come from lawmakers, partisan political warriors or farmers. And there's plenty more where that came from.
From the LAT's Ralph Vartabedian and Dan Weikel: "The new challenges are coming from a private railroad that controls a key right of way, a legislative committee delving into contracting issues and a powerful federal agency asserting authority over the project."
"The rail agency is beginning to make purchase offers for land around Fresno and says it still plans to start building this summer."
"But last week, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Co., which operates a freight line that follows some of the 130-mile initial route in the Central Valley, warned in a blunt letter that no deal has been reached to build on or near its existing track. The company also signaled that it may not be willing to accept the project as proposed, in part because the exact route of the line is still unclear."
Tinseltown has suffered hits for years as the big studios cut work forces, but L.A. County actually added thousands of jobs in March.
From Gina Hall at LA Biz: "Even though it seems that every week brings news of major layoffs, the job market in Hollywood apparently isn't as bad as it seems. The film, television and music businesses in L.A. county created 131,600 jobs in March, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp."
"The new numbers are up 7.9 percent from February and 12.6% year-over-year. While the figures don't include freelance or independent workers, it's a positive change from the dismal January numbers which saw a sharp drop of 106,500 jobs and the market hitting its lowest point since January of 2001. Robert Kleinhenz, chief economist for the LAEDC, observed that March's jobs total was the highest level in L.A.'s entertainment sector since 2008."
"Television production has picked up in the area and pilot season is currently in full swing, with several shooting around town in hopes of getting picked up into a series. Location production in L.A. shot up 18% in the first quarter of this year."
Finally, from our "Tales Of the Garden State" file, we learn the truth of that old adage -- trust everybody but count the silverware. You'd think that nobody would be foolish enough to mess with the USS New Jersey, but apparently that doesn't include Gov. Chris Christie, who somehow latched on to the forks and spoons.
"In the 70 years since its commissioning, the Battleship New Jersey has entertained many a guest with its Tiffany silver service — presented by the state to the original Battleship New Jersey in 1907 — gleaming in the captain’s quarters."
"Gov. Chris Christie, who has not visited the battleship in an official capacity since taking office, now controls the silver service. The 59 pieces are held at Drumthwacket, the governor’s mansion in Princeton."
"Now, the battleship wants its silver back. Philip Rowan, executive director and CEO of the battleship, recently sent the governor a letter inviting him to the commissioning anniversary celebration planned for May 23 on the Camden waterfront, where the decommissioned ship is berthed."
Call in Snooki ....