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COLLABORATION IS KEY. California State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass greets Chamber Board Chair Tim McCallion, Verizon, during the Access Sacramento delegation breakfast on Tuesday. More than 100 business leaders from Southern California met with legislators, agency officials and lawmakers over two days, advocating on issues including: business and job growth; California Environment Quality Act (CEQA) reform; education and workforce development; energy, water and the environment; health care; international trade; and transportation and goods movement. (View Chamber photo gallery).
Access Sacramento
Participants headed to the state's Capital in seven different policy teams. Below is an update on the teams and the issues that were discussed with state legislators this week.
Lawmakers talk budget reform
“I urge the L.A. Area Chamber, as a rational voice, to step forward and say the state must find a more fair way to govern itself,” said State Senate President Pro Tem-elect Darrell Steinberg at a breakfast with the 100-member Chamber Delegation on Tuesday. The delegation luncheon welcomed guests Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny, Chair, Senate Budget & Fiscal Review Committee, and Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Dick Ackerman. Ackerman emphasized that the state could not “tax its way out of" the budget crisis. Contact VP of Public Policy Samuel Garrison, 213.580.7568 or [email protected].
Education team finds support for Multiple Pathways bills
The Education team met with Secretary of Education David Long, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell, Assemblymember Julia Brownley and Sen. Tom Torlakson to build support for the Chamber-sponsored Multiple Pathways bills, intended to engage and motivate students by connecting academics to real-world application. The team also met with Deputy Legislative Secretary for the Governor's Office, Paul Navarro and Assemblymember Martin Garrick to discuss longitudinal education data systems and stress the importance of Cash for College funding. Contact VP of Education & Workforce Development David Rattray, 213.482.3987 or [email protected].
Health Care team discusses statewide reform
The Chamber’s Health Care team met with the Governor’s senior health care policy advisor, Herb Schultz, and members of the Legislature to discuss the state's pressing health care issues. Chamber members also met with Assembly Health Committee Vice-Chair Alan Nakanishi to advocate a renewed effort to reform the state’s health care system. Contact Samuel Garrison, 213.580.7568 or [email protected].
Goods Movement team discusses fund allocation
The Goods Movement team met with Sen. Alan Lowenthal, Deputy Legislative Secretary for Governor Schwarzenegger Curt Augustine and Secretary Dale E. Bonner, Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, to discuss container fees and solutions to improving goods movement infrastructure in Southern California. The team advocated for Proposition 1B funds to help fight congestion and provide for environmental mitigation. Contact Senior Public Policy Manager Alex Pugh 213.580.7558 or [email protected].
CEQA team offers suggestions on legislation
The California Environment Quality Act (CEQA) team met with lawmakers including Sens. George Runner and Gil Cedillo to advocate in favor of strengthening existing CEQA exemptions for multi-family housing developments. The team addressed the broad exemptions in the law, which have turned CEQA into a tool to derail housing production instead of a catalyst for creating socially and environmentally desirable housing projects. Contact Public Policy Manager Vanessa Rodriguez, 213.580.7531 or [email protected].
International Trade team recommends a state legislative office for trade
The International Trade team met with Assemblymembers Paul Krekorian and Betty Karnette and recommended establishing an office of international trade and investment at the state level to provide needed assistance to small and medium-sized businesses. The team also urged the state to influence congress to support pending free trade agreements. Contact International Trade Manager Vanessa Pereda, 213.580.7538 or [email protected].
Transportation team pushes for infrastructure funding
The Transportation team met with several legislators including Assemblymember Mike Feuer, incoming Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Mike Eng and consultant for the Senate Transportation Committee Art Bauer to advocate for legislation to improve mobility in Southern California as well as transportation infrastructure funding initiatives. Contact Senior Public Policy Manager Alex Pugh 213.580.7558 or [email protected].
Energy, Water & Environment team stresses water quality
Lester Snow, Director of the Department of Water Resources and Assemblymember Lois Wolk met with the Energy, Water and Environment team to discuss short and long-term fixes for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The team also offered potential solutions to ensure statewide safe and reliable drinking water. Contact Senior Public Policy Manager Alex Pugh 213.580.7558 or [email protected].
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Chamber staff testifies in Sacramento on key legislation
Chamber staff testified on Wednesday in support of the California Dream Act AB 2083 (Nuñez) and AB 2078 (Fuentes), which will allow high school academic credit for work-based learning and encourages business partnerships with schools. AB 2078 passed with unanimous bipartisan support while AB 2083 passed out of Senate Education Committee with a 6-3 vote and will move to Senate Appropriations. Contact Public Policy Manager Alejandra Velazquez, 213.580.7544 or [email protected].
Event Highlight: Turning Point Urban Business Summit & Expo, June 26 – 27
Network with key influencers, enhance your market share, and get access to capital at the Turning Point Urban Business Summit & Expo, June 26 – 27, Downtown Los Angeles Sheraton. Conference includes luncheon honoring the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks co-owners and a historic closing night reception saluting California State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass and five former speakers. A celebrity golf tournament precedes the conference June 25 at the Malibu Country Club. Click here for more information and to register today.
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THIS WEEK'S
BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE___
"Reforming
California's Budget"
OVERHEARD_______________
“We cannot continue to borrow out of this mess-
a budget based on borrowing is too risky.”
— Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny at the Access Sacramento delegation luncheon on Tuesday.
MEDIA HITS_____
"California is branded among a 'Dirty Dozen' on gerrymandering," Los Angeles Times, June 19. The Chamber Common Cause, AARP and the League of Women Voters introduced the California redistricting initiative after Legislature promises for reform fell through.
"LA business leaders urging an increase in the state car tax,"Daily News, June 18. "What our members recognize is the magnitude of the problem calls for us to support something like this," said Chamber Board Chair Tim McCallion regarding the Chamber’s budget survey.
"LA Chamber leans toward restoring car tax." Sacramento Bee, June 17. The poll of L.A. Area Chamber members drew 215 responses and was released in alignment with the Chamber's Access Sacramento advocay trip.
"No new taxes," L.A. Observed, June 17. According to a Chamber poll, 65 percent of Chamber members support a combination of spending cuts and tax/fee increases.
EVENT HIGHLIGHT_____
Business Empowerment Program: “Helping to achieve the dream of business ownership”
Thursday, June 26
5:30-8 p.m.
3721 South La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Are you starting or do you have an existing business? Do you need start-up or expansion capital? Obtain the business capital that you need at Operation Hope's Access to Funding Seminar. Register today by contacting 323.290.2405 or [email protected] or [email protected].
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