Calif. Unemployment Fund Running Out of Money
As California's unemployment rate hits a 12-year high, the state program that pays benefits to the jobless is facing a severe money shortage and a huge backlog of unresolved appeals. Callahan said all ways to eliminate the fund's red ink have to be considered, including tightening eligibility standards. "The whole idea behind unemployment insurance is that when the economy's down, people have money in their pockets to continue spending," he said. "But at the same time, there's ways to tighten up what we're paying out in California. ... When you double benefits without offsetting reforms, the fund just can't take it." (Associated Press in the San Jose Mercury News 09/10/08)

Calif. Aims to Concentrate Growth to Cut Use of Cars
California is poised to pass the first law in the nation linking greenhouse gas emissions to urban planning, a departure from the growth approach that spawned the state's car culture and urban sprawl. "It will hamper or completely stop infrastructure throughout the state. It will jeopardize buildings, the transfer of goods and services," said Tom Holsman, chief executive of the Associated General Contractors of California, which is joined by the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Grocers Association and the California Retailers Association in opposing the bill. (Washington Post 09/07/08)

Folding a Winning Hand?
For a relatively small concession, given the monstrous size of the state budget shortfall, here was the foundation of a deal that could deliver for Republicans one of their primary goals — reforms that would force the Legislature to put money aside in good economic times rather than reflexively use the windfall to grow government programs. One person who got the significance of the proposal was California Chamber of Commerce President Allan Zaremberg, an old Sacramento hand who has been fighting these budget battles for decades. (Timm Herdt in the Ventura County Star 08/27/08)

California Businesses May Score in Legislative Duel
Business groups label the four groups' major bills "job killers" and despite the leftward tilt of the Legislature, business lobbies are faring surprisingly well on defense with less than a week remaining in the 2008 session – and could even score some points on offense as an adjunct of the state budget wrangle. Last week, the largest and most influential of the business groups, the California Chamber of Commerce, revised its "job killer" list, noting that 22 of its measures had already been stopped, leaving just 17 of the original batch still pending, plus another late-blooming entry that would make it easier for the United Farm Workers Union to organize field workers. (Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee 08/26/08)

Tough Talk Raises the Heat
Allan Zaremberg, president of the California Chamber of Commerce, wrote an online column Friday for the FlashReport that urged consideration. "Nobody likes tax increases, least of all the hard-working taxpayers and the business men and women who pay them," Zaremberg wrote. "However, this budget – this year – is about more than tax increases," he added. "The governor's framework may provide a unique opportunity … to achieve flexible work days, to guarantee a mandatory budget reserve, to limit the growth of government, and to permanently reduce the state's tax rate." (Sacramento Bee 08/23/08)

State Budget: Out of Adversity Comes Opportunity
Governor Schwarzenegger and the state’s Republican legislators understand the importance of a strong economy. Over the years, both have worked hard to protect jobs in the face of legislative proposals that would have hurt employers and our competitiveness. (FlashReport 08/22/08)

Employers, Costs Kill Paid Sick Leave Bill
A state bill to guarantee paid days off for sick workers died Thursday amid opposition from business lobbyists and lawmaker concern that the benefit was too costly. If the proposal had become law, California would have been the first state in the nation to provide universal paid sick leave. But it would have eroded the state's ability to attract new employers, said state Chamber of Commerce President Allan Zaremberg. Ma's proposal was high on the influential business lobby's annual list of "job killer" bills. (Los Angeles Times 08/08/08)

Committee Kills Sick Leave Bill
Legislation requiring California employers to provide paid sick leave was killed in committee Thursday afternoon, handing a major victory to business groups. The legislation was fiercely opposed by employer groups that said it put an unfair financial burden on employers in a slowing economy. The California Chamber of Commerce put it near the top of its annual listing of “job-killer” bills. (Los Angeles Business Journal 08/08/08)

Sick-Leave Measure Dies in Senate Committee
AB 2716 was fiercely opposed by business interests, but its demise apparently was due to its projected costs of implementation and enforcement in a year when the state faces a $15.2 billion deficit. "In an already troubled economy, California should be seeking ways to stimulate job growth and avoid forcing costly mandates on employers," the California Chamber of Commerce said in a letter opposing the measure. (Sacramento Bee 08/08/08)

CA Bill Pushes for Extended Sick Pay
A state Senate committee is set to take up a bill Monday that would grant paid sick days to every worker in California."Some employers have said that they'll have to forgo raises for their employees, there won't be bonuses, they may have to cut back on vacation time. In very severe cases, we might see some job losses, and cutting back on hours," said Marti Fisher, a policy advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce." (KCBS 08/0/08)

Bill Proposes Fees on More Plastic Containers to Encourage California Recycling
Consumers would pay a redemption fee on a broader range of plastic containers, from ketchup bottles to peanut butter jars, under a bill pending at the Capitol. Opponents of the bill, including the California Chamber of Commerce and several manufacturing associations, cite the program's price increase on goods as one of many concerns. Jason Schmelzer, a chamber policy advocate, said in a letter to lawmakers that manufacturers may move away from plastic containers to avoid the CRV, that this could result in "unintended environmental consequences," and that "glass and bi-metal non-beverage containers should likewise be included in the proposed expansion." (Sacramento Bee 08/02/08)

Bill Would Require Paid Sick Days for Most
AB 2716 by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco -- was modeled on the paid sick leave law that took effect last year in San Francisco. The bill passed the state Assembly in May and is scheduled for a hearing next week in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Business groups led by the California Chamber of Commerce oppose the sick leave bill, saying it is a complicated and costly mandate that could force companies to cut wages or lay off workers. "In this economy, money is stretched pretty thin for California employers," said chamber spokeswoman Marti Fisher. "It's a bad idea to mandate benefits. This could force employers to cut back on hours, raises or even lay people off." (San Francisco Chronicle 07/31/08)

State's Business Lobby Wants Labor Laws Adjusted Along with Budget
Allan Zaremberg, president and chief executive officer of CalChamber, said businesses should take credit for powering enough tax revenue growth that the state hasn't needed to raise taxes. "The economy drives your ability to meet your expenditure needs," Zaremberg said. "A strong economy means more than adequate revenue for the state. It's up to the state to say we're not going to take one-time capital gains from a strong stock market or real estate market. Instead, we're going to pay down the deficit or create a reserve." (Sacramento Bee 07/28/08)

Sen. Kuehl Tries Again for Universal Health Care System in California
Six years after launching her effort, state Sen. Sheila Kuehl made a final pitch Wednesday to a legislative committee for a government-run universal health care system. Marti Fisher of the California Chamber of Commerce testified that SB 840 would create "a huge, new underfunded bureaucracy while imposing new taxes and not addressing escalating medical costs." The measure's supporters cited studies predicting that the legislation would drive down health care costs. (Sacramento Bee 07/17/08)

Critics Say Disabled Access Bill is Too Broad, Too Weak
After years of failed efforts, the Legislature is attempting again to bridge the divide with a proposal to curb lawsuits while improving public access for California's disabled. "Everyone sees it as a historic effort because it is consensus-based and so many different parties are in support of this," said Kyla Christoffersen, CalChamber's policy advocate. Christoffersen said the bill "balances everyone's interest" and does not bar anyone from bringing "meritorious lawsuits." Meanwhile, she says, it encourages businesses to be proactive about compliance. (Sacramento Bee 06/09/08)

Execs' Outlook on State Glum
California business executives have an overwhelmingly pessimistic view of the state's current economy and don't see many bright spots in the future, according to findings released Thursday by the Sacramento-based California Chamber of Commerce. The chamber said the "California Business Executives Attitudes" survey, held May 12-21, sought responses from 1,113 California business executives. (Sacramento Bee 06/06/08)

Assembly OKs Paid Sick Leave for All
California would become the first state to require paid sick leave for every worker under legislation passed Wednesday by the Assembly. The California Chamber of Commerce, in a letter of opposition, noted that many employers voluntarily offer paid sick leave. But AB 2716 could hurt businesses that lack the money or expertise to expand their record-keeping and payroll reporting, the chamber said. "In an already troubled economy, California should be seeking ways to stimulate job growth and avoid forcing costly mandates on employers," the group wrote. (Sacramento Bee 05/29/08)

Heavy Lifting Begins in California Fight Against Greenhouse Gas Emissions
But at the end of next month, the state Air Resources Board will release its draft plan on putting key provisions of the law, AB32 which Schwarzenegger signed in 2006, into effect. “The devil is in the details, the specifics are what will make the program,” said Amisha Patel, a policy advocate with the California Chamber of Commerce. “We would like to see a basket of options, and from our perspective that basket should include cap-and-trade and offsets.” (Capitol Weekly 05/29/08)

Measure calls for developers to pay water impact fees
The Assembly plans to take up legislation that would force developers to pay to offset increased water use at new projects, much like school impact fees. Builders say that more fees would be another drag on their slumping industry. The California Chamber of Commerce is pitching in to help kill the legislation. “AB 2153 further exacerbates a suffering economy and dismal housing market by imposing an untold tax on new home buyers,” opponents wrote. Business interests argue that new homes and buildings are water-efficient. (San Diego Union-Tribune 05/27/08)

Job Killer Laws On the Increase
These are just some of the 34 bills that the California Chamber of Commerce last week targeted in its annual “job killer” list of bills regarded as onerous to business. “There’s a general theme to some of the legislation this year, of going after the industries that have money,” said Marc Burgat, the chamber’s vice president of government relations. “It all goes back to this huge budget deficit we’re facing, $24 billion over two years.” (Los Angeles Business Journal 05/26/08)

Sex Sells, So Legislator Urges State to Tax It
A Southern California assemblyman has proposed a 25 percent tax on the gross revenues of all producers and distributors of adult entertainment, enraging an unlikely alliance of pornographic film producers, the state Chamber of Commerce and cable television operators. The bill would cover every end of distribution, from movie makers to cable stations to stores that sell pornographic magazines, and would include strip clubs. (New York Times 05/26/08)

Should Medicinal Pot Users Get Job Security?
Since marijuana is illegal under federal law, businesses have the right to fire anyone who tests positive for it, the court ruled. "An employer may require pre-employment drug tests and take illegal drug use into consideration," the Supreme Court ruled. Others argue that forcing businesses to accept medicinal marijuana users could increase the risk of accidents and endanger others. "That's a liability that our members don't necessarily want to take on," said Marti Fisher, representing the California Chamber of Commerce. (Sacramento Bee 05/25/08)

Term Limits Create Intraparty Fights for California Seats
Term limits have turned some former political allies into campaign foes as voters prepare to select nominees for 100 seats in the California Legislature. In a half dozen races on the June 3 primary ballot, former lawmakers are trying to revive political careers that were at least temporarily interrupted by term limits. "I think the stakes for business in this election are very high, and you will see an active effort from the business community to go out and help Democrats who both understand business issues and will help to build the economy for the future of California," said Rob Lapsley, executive director of JOBSPAC, a California Chamber of Commerce campaign committee. (Associated Press in the San Francisco Chronicle 05/08/08)

Taxes as a Tool to Fix Economy
The only proven solution to California's budget deficit is a sustained economic recovery. A sales tax on services would impede that recovery. Many California businesses would face an immediate 8% competitive disadvantage to companies in other states. (Allan Zaremberg in a Letter to the Editor of the Los Angeles Times 05/07/2008)

State Tax Hike Talk Must be Linked to Budget Reform
Is it better to ask permission or beg forgiveness? The California Legislature must believe it is better to beg forgiveness since they never sought permission to raise taxes to pay for a spending spree that has increased outlays by 80 percent since 1998. Now, faced with a deep budget deficit, many elected officials are advocating tax increases to pay for overspending. (Loren Kaye in the Sacramento Bee 04/22/08)

Tax Day Is Over, but Internet Tax Threats Loom
As Americans stretched to pay the tax man this week, California Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Montebello) was working on the sly to institute a new digital tax. Such a move is not only short-sighted, but also could seriously harm the state's competitiveness. The California Chamber of Commerce, which opposes the bill, points out that because of a Supreme Court ruling on mail-order companies, "in-state companies will be required to collect the new Internet tax while out-of-state companies will not." (Tech News World 04/18/08)

Nevada Fishes for New Business
Authority representatives stationed themselves outside the Capitol building in Sacramento, Calif., on Tax Day…to remind California business owners as they shelled out state corporate and personal income taxes Tuesday that they'd be free of such levies if they relocated to the Silver State. Allan Zaremberg, president and chief executive officer of the California Chamber of Commerce, agreed that business owners consider factors beyond taxes when they're deciding where to locate a company. "Our access to ports, a vastly superior work force, a tremendous system of higher education and a great quality of life keep us competitive," Zaremberg said. "As well, California has a substantially larger and wealthier consumer base market than other states." (Las Vegas Review Journal 04/17/08)

Should California Require Small Businesses to Offer Sick Days?
Hundreds of small businesses in California say they can't afford to offer paid sick days to employees, but Assemblywoman Fiona Ma believes businesses actually could save money by doing so. The San Francisco Democrat's Assembly Bill 2716 would let workers earn paid sick days that could be used to recover from illness, care for a sick relative or recover from domestic violence or sexual assault. The California Chamber of Commerce said the proposal would "unreasonably expand employers' costs and liability." Those cost increases could result in lower wages, reduced health insurance availability and reductions in worker-training programs, the chamber said. (Sacramento Bee 04/17/08)

Flexible Workweek Legislation Dies By Party-Line Vote In Committee
Assemblyman John J. Benoit (R-Bermuda Dunes) today announced that his Small Business Family Scheduling Option (Assembly Bill 2127), legislation that would have given flexibility to hourly employees in California's small businesses to alter their workweek schedules, was defeated on a party-line vote in the Labor and Employment Committee. "I am terribly dismayed that liberal-dominated interests, which would be unaffected by my bill´s provisions, have stopped small business employees from having the additional workweek flexibility that workers in 46 other states enjoy," said Benoit. " (California Chronicle 04/10/08)

New Calif. Bill Would Give All Workers Paid Sick Leave
California could become the first state in the country to require paid sick days for all workers, if a controversial bill is eventually passed in Sacramento. "We believe that additional cost could lead to layoffs, could lead to fewer folks being employed," said Marc Burgat of the California Chamber of Commerce. With California facing a more than $16 billion budget shortfall, many agree with Burgat, Luery said. (NBC11.com 04/10/08)

Will Calif. Senate Bill Make Criminals out of Studio, TV Execs?
Democratic state Senator Sheila Kuehl “fair market value” bill backed by the Writers Guild and Teamsters has good intentions, and pokes into a touchy area that needs reform; but as written it is so vague that it might open up a Pandora’s box of conflicting claims; and as a result contracts could be rewritten that would make such a law backfire on the very groups that it is intended to help. The California Chamber of Commerce was blunt in its call to quash the legislation: “The bill uses the legislative process to inappropriately attempt to rewrite an actual, recently-reached collective bargaining agreement. The bill dictates contract terms that were discussed and rejected in negotiations leading to the collective bargaining agreement that brought an end to the recent and highly publicized writer’s strike.’ (Hollywood Today Newsmagazine 04/10/08)

CalBizCentral Releases New Booklets to Aid California Businesses
In response to employment law confusion, CalBizCentral recently released a mini-booklet series titled "What Every Manager Needs to Know About." The five-booklet series is designed to educate managers about state and federal employee law and reduce the legal risks of companies. (HispanicBusiness.com 04/09/08)

Legislators Propose New Labor Laws
The California Chamber of Commerce and small business lobbying groups are sponsoring flexible hours legislation. The bill by Republican Assemblyman John Benoit would allow businesses with 25 or fewer employees, not covered by collective bargaining, to offer four ten hour days per week or other schedule agreeable to both. (KGET.com 04/09/08)

Sick Leave Bill to Get Assembly Hearing
But at least a dozen business groups have lined up to oppose the bill, contending it would increase costs and liability. Business leaders also warn it could lower wages and reduce available health insurance. In the worst-case scenario, the mandate could lead to job loss or reduced work hours, said Denise Davis, a spokeswoman for the California Chamber of Commerce. (Associated Press in the San Jose Mercury News 04/07/08)

Restaurants Gain Support for Suit Against San Francisco's Mandatory Health Payments
San Francisco restaurateurs' legal battle with the city's novel health plan is gaining supporters. Groups including the National Federation of Independent Business, the California Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Department of Labor have written the court arguing that the city's health plan is superseded by a federal law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, which restricts local governments from administering employee benefits. (East Bay Business Times 03/31/08)

Chamber a Supporter of Flexible Work Hours Measure
The Modesto Chamber of Commerce supports Assembly Bill 2127, which will allow employees and employers flexibility in work schedules. It will help accommodate workers' diverse family obligations, personal pursuits, commuting issues and environmental concerns. (Joy Madison in the Modesto Bee 03/28/08)

Californians Should Watch Out for Taxes Disguised as Fees
As state lawmakers search for solutions to address California’s significant projected budget deficit, many in the business community are concerned that tax increase proposals will be on the rise. Ironically, a proposed legislative tax increase forthrightly identified as a tax increase is not the most threatening type of proposal to taxpayers. (Kyla Chrisotffersen in Capitol Weekly 03/20/2008)

Businesses Face Loss of Benefits
The state’s major business groups are also opposed to reducing or phasing out corporate tax breaks. “The most important criteria to consider in evaluating tax credits and competing demands for resources is job growth and investment,” said Kyla Christoffersen, policy advocate with CalChamber, formerly the California Chamber of Commerce. “Stimulating the economy is the only way California can generate the tax revenues it needs to run the state over the long term.” (Los Angeles Business Journal 03/10/2008)

Family-Friendly Work Benefits Falling Short
Business groups have opposed such mandates, however, saying they place a burden on employers. The California Chamber of Commerce has called for laws that enable workers to choose flexible work schedules instead. (San Francisco Chronicle 02/26/08)

Senator Margett Calls For Flexibility In Meal Periods For All California Employees and Employers
Senator Bob Margett (R-Glendora) introduced Senate Bill 1192 which gives all California employees greater flexibility in deciding when to take a meal break. According to a recent publication regarding meal periods by the California Chamber of Commerce, "California law on meal and rest periods is a confusing, self-contradictory muddle that exposes employers to indefinite and often unjustified risks of litigation. Further, it provides employers and employees alike with no meaningful ability to maturely manage how employees eat and rest during their daily workday." (California Chronicle 02/13/2008)

Community College Proposition Proves Divisive
Hardly anyone disputes that the 109 public community colleges in California are underfunded, but this initiative underscores disagreement over the right time and the right way to fix that. “It locks in huge new state spending with no way to pay for it,” said Denise Davis, a spokeswoman for the statewide business organization. “We're concerned that it's adding spending in a year when we're facing a huge budget deficit.” (San Diego Union-Tribune 01/28/08)

Medical Pot Rights Don't Apply at Work, Court Says
The decision immediately spurred calls by activists and lawmakers for the overhaul of the state's medical marijuana law voters passed more than a decade ago. But business leaders welcomed the court's position. "We think this protects employers and the safety of employees in the workplace," said Denise Davis of the California Chamber of Commerce. (Sacramento Bee 01/25/08)

Business Friend of Governor
The governor's proposals to plug budget shortfalls include 10 percent cuts in most departments, early release of thousands of prisoners and the full or partial closing of many state parks. What they don't include is additional taxes on business. "We're still working through the budget checking everything," said Denise Davis of the California Chamber of Commerce. "It's a huge process and this is going to be a very tough year. The governor has had to make some hard decisions, but we haven't seen anything hurtful to business." (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin 01/20/08)

Yes on Props. 94, 95, 96 and 97
A broad statewide coalition is supporting Props. 94, 95, 96 and 97, including the governor, fire and law enforcement groups, seniors, the California Chamber of Commerce and other business organizations. The opposition is funded and directed by gaming interests that don't want the competition and don't see the common interest. (North County Times 01/12/2008)

Budget Plan Could Hit Capital Region Hard
Make deep cuts in spending, as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged in his budget proposal, and you take money out of the economy. Raise taxes, as Democrats believe is necessary, and you create the same effect. "He understands the need to invest in the future," said Denise Davis, a spokeswoman for the California Chamber of Commerce. She said the chamber was "very pleased" that the governor resisted higher taxes. (Sacramento Bee 01/11/2008)

Business Groups Announce Opposition to California Health Care Bill
Business groups are lining up against the proposed health care reform plan touted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. The California Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, and the California Manufacturers & Technology Association were among the list of a dozen business-friendly groups that signed a letter Jan. 9 announcing their opposition of Assembly Bill X1 1... (East Bay Business Times 01/10/08)

Budget Woes Divert Water Bond
The Republican effort is being led by the California Chamber of Commerce and other business and farm groups. The coalition has not begun collecting signatures for the initiative because it still needs final approval from the Secretary of State's Office. The coalition plans to meet in the future and discuss next steps," said chamber spokeswoman Denise Davis. (Fresno Bee 01/08/2008)

Punitive-Damages Reform Is Essential for Future of California Business
The results of recent national surveys of state legal systems confirm that states have failed to convince businesses that their punitive-damages systems are fair and reasonable. In the same survey, California's punitive-damages system ranked near bottom: third-worst in the nation in 2007, behind Mississippi and West Virginia.(Op-ed by Kyla Christoffersen in the Daily Journal 01/07/08)