Robust State Budget, Key Programs Rely on Private Sector Success
Taxes continue to pour into the state treasury, like spring snowmelt into Lake Oroville. Thanks to the engine of California’s private economy – the creativity of business leaders and productivity of employees – and
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CalChamber Podcast: Taxes, Taxes and More Taxes
Even though California is enjoying its ninth straight year of economic growth and the state has a solid budget surplus and a brimming Rainy Day Fund, California legislators can’t seem to resist the temptation
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CalChamber Podcast: Taxes, Taxes and More Taxes
Even though California is enjoying its ninth straight year of economic growth and the state has a solid budget surplus and a brimming Rainy Day Fund, California legislators can’t seem to resist the temptation
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Pay Your Taxes? Take a Breath, More May Be On the Way
Today is Tax Day, so if you’re not up to your ears in forms and schedules, you’re probably breathing a sigh of relief. Just don’t get too relaxed. More than $15 billion in tax
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One-Year Countdown to Census
In just one year, the U.S. government will fulfill its once-a-decade duty to count every American. April 1, 2020 is Census Day. Armed with a $15 billion budget, the Census Bureau will aim to
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Governor Unveils Carrot-and-Stick Approach to Boost Housing Production
“The number one driver of cost of living is housing – housing is the issue. Unless we get serious about it, the state will continue to lose its middle class and the dream will
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Voters Say: Solve Housing Crisis or We’ll Leave
California’s housing crisis is the worst threat to our middle class lifestyle since the recession. Our median home listing price is nearly twice the national average, and besides Hawaii is higher than any other state. Voters
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CalChamber Poll: Job Optimism, Housing Anxiety, Support for Bipartisanship
California voters are feeling better about the economy, but are still anxious about the cost of living, according to the recently released 2018 CalChamber Poll. Nearly two-thirds of voters say that more new jobs
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The Next Governor’s Known Unknowns
On Day One of his new administration, Gavin Newsom or John Cox will enunciate his vision for California, and call on the Legislature to implement it, whether it’s spurring more housing, increasing school funding,
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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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