No Protection of a Harassment Victim’s Identity if a Public Official Is Involved
As noted in several prior blogs, the #Metoo movement has been a primary focus of the Legislature this year. The Legislature held multiple informational hearings on the issue that focused on internal processes for
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#MeToo, But Maybe Not For You
Preventing sexual harassment and protecting victims has been a high priority for the Legislature – fallout from the #MeToo movement sweeping politics, the media and Hollywood, and especially on the heels of harassment scandals
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Legislature Can Get the Lead Out
The right of citizens to propose laws by ballot initiative is one of California’s great checks and balances. Often viewed as a last resort to express the will of the voters (see: Proposition 13),
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High Court Ruling Raises Questions on Passage of Local Special Taxes
How many voters does it take to pass a local special tax? Since Proposition 13 in 1978, voters have had the final say on local tax increases. A subsequent initiative passed in 1996, Proposition
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The Legislature Takes On Initiatives
The talk of the Capitol last week was of “the Hertzberg bill,” which changed the calendar for certain activities related to ballot measures, with the intent to ease legislative fixes to proposed ballot measures
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Beating the Odds
You had a better chance of hitting 00 on the roulette wheel than killing a bill in the first house of the Legislature this month. Yet CalChamber helped stop five bills on the Assembly
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Legislating is Hard When Up Against Reality
Take SB 826, a bill by Senator Jackson that would set a quota of women board members for publicly-traded corporations that are headquartered in California. Troubled that women amount to more than half the
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Legislature stays the course, preferring market mechanisms for GHG goals – for now
Given the choice between a cost-effective market approach to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and more expensive command-and-control regulations, the Legislature so far is sticking with the market. This is good news for business
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Capitol Insider: Rare Consensus for Education Reform
Rare Consensus for Education Reform
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Four Ways California Can Help Get More Grads Ready for College, Career
The California economy is humming. Unemployment is at historic lows, even in many parts of the state often left behind in good times. But even this silver lining has a cloud. Parts of the
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Federal Tax Reform Means More Business Taxes for California
California’s corporate tax base may increase by up to 12% as a result of federal tax reform legislation, according to a study recently released by the State Tax Research Institute (STRI). This means that revenues from
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Seven Ballot Initiatives Threaten Business Climate
Voters may face as many as seven ballot measures damaging to California’s business and political climate in November. Any one of these measures should motivate millions in opposition spending by affected industries. More than
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CalChamber, Linked Learning Alliance Launch New Network
The California Chamber of Commerce and the Linked Learning Alliance have launched a new California network of employer associations committed to advancing youth opportunities and reducing youth unemployment. The lead organizations, CalChamber and Linked
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Timely Economic Analysis of Major Regs Upheld in Unanimous Appeal Court Ruling
State agencies must take seriously the requirement to conduct a timely, accurate economic analysis of major regulations, according to a just-released opinion by the 5th District Court of Appeal. In a unanimous opinion upholding
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This Economy Isn’t Helping All Californians. Here’s How We Can Spread the Wealth
California voters are anxious. The economy is growing, the state budget is balanced and drought worries have receded. Yet according to a recent CalChamber poll, voters believe state leaders are not addressing the issues
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CalChamber Poll Finds Voters Open to a Middle Lane
Last week in this space we summarized the findings of the Third Annual CalChamber Poll, which found California voters generally anxious about the future. Voters are very concerned about the cost of living –
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CalChamber Poll Finds Voters’ Concerns at Odds with Political Leaders
Californians are anxious. The economy is growing, the state budget is balanced and the rains have resumed. Yet California voters are apprehensive about the future. They worry that state leaders are not addressing the
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California Supreme Court Decision May Threaten Local Taxpayer Protections
A California Supreme Court decision makes it easier to raise some local taxes. But how much easier remains to be seen. For two decades, local tax increases have usually been governed by Proposition 218,
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Cap-and-Trade Deal Also Cut Taxes
As part of a comprehensive, bipartisan solution implementing the state’s ambitious climate change goals, the legislation that extended the cap-and-trade program also included several useful tax reductions. These tax cuts will help mitigate cost
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Future of Cap and Trade Requires 2/3 Vote Approval
The California Supreme Court recently declined to review the 2-1 split decision by the Appellate Court, which ruled that California’s current cap-and-trade auction is not a tax requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. The legislative authorization for
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