Winter 2013 - Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
Winter 2013 - Camarillo Chamber of Commerce Winter 2013 - Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
Business Advocacy In light of the outcomes of the recent elections, the region’s business community has our work cut out for us in 2013. Although, Chamber Alliance-endorsed lawmakers Congressman Buck McKeon and Assemblyman Jeff Gorell got reelected, the Chamber Alliance lost a reliable pro-job creation vote in Tony Strickland who narrowly lost his bid for Congress against Assemblywoman Julia Brownley. Sen. Strickland’s old seat will be represented by Senator-elect Hannah Beth Jackson. Furthermore, Democrats have achieved a rare two-thirds majority in both the State Senate and Assembly in addition to the governor’s office. Among other things, two thirds majorities will Election outcomes demonstrate need for more advocacy Brendan Huffman Executive Director make it far easier for taxes to be raised and emergency legislation to be passed resulting in such bills taking effect as soon as they are signed into law. As for ballot measures, the Chamber Alliance is pleased that voters rejected Prop. 37 that would have forced food retailers to ensure that genetically modified food products they sell to be properly labeled by farmers and food producers—or face private right of action lawsuits. Voters also rejected Prop. 38 that would have raised income taxes but approved Prop. 40 to keep the state senate boundaries as drawn up last year by the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Looking ahead, the Chamber Alliance is seeking to increase our presence in Sacramento next year to ensure that our region’s business perspective is considered more often in the legislative process. And we are weighing strategies to engage our lawmakers more often when they are in their districts. Nevertheless, it is more important than ever that our chambers be effective advocates for business. The Chamber Alliance is here to help all of our chambers raise the bar on their advocacy efforts, so please let us know how we can assist your chamber as we head into 2013. For more information about the Chamber Alliance, please visit www. ChamberAlliance.biz. CalChamber Vote Record: Major Bills 2012 The Journal Winter 2013 30 This report for the second year of the 2011–2012 legislative session focuses on California legislators’ floor votes on California Chamber of Commerce priority bills. This is the 38th vote record the CalChamber has compiled. The CalChamber publishes this report in response to numerous requests by member firms and local chambers of commerce that would like a gauge by which to measure the performance of their legislators. To help readers assess legislators’ vote records, the charts group bills into six areas: economic development, environmental regulation, labor and employment, legal, taxation and workers’ compensation. Partial Picture No vote record can tell the entire story of a legislator’s attitude and actions on issues of importance to business. Each year, legislators cast thousands of votes on thousands of proposed laws. To fully evaluate your legislative representative, consult the legislative journals and examine your legislator’s votes in committee and on floor issues. You can view these via links at www. calchambervotes.com. Many anti-business bills were rejected by legislators in policy or fiscal committees, thus stopping proposals before they reached the floor for a vote. The vote record does not capture these votes. Most bills in this report cover major business bills that are of concern to both small and large companies. The CalChamber recognizes that there are many bills supported or opposed by business that are not included in this vote record and analysis. Factors Considered The CalChamber considers the following factors in selecting vote record bills: ● The bills and votes reflect legislators’ attitudes toward private enterprise, fiscal responsibility and the business climate. ● Each bill was a priority for the Cal- Chamber in a particular field. Priority bills have appeared in the “Status Report” sections of Alert. ● The bills were voted upon by either the full Senate or Assembly. This year the vote record covers 10 votes in the Senate and 11 votes in the Assembly. ● Unless otherwise noted, final floor votes are shown. Concurrence votes and conference report votes are considered final votes. When ‘Not Voting’ Helps Sometimes a legislator is unwilling to vote against a colleague, but is willing to Continued next page
® CalChamber Vote Record continued support the CalChamber’s opposition to a bill. In such cases, a legislator may abstain from voting, which will hinder passage of a bill, just as a “no” vote does. To recognize that not voting can aid the CalChamber’s opposition to a bill, the vote record includes the number of times legislators did not vote “aye” on a CalChamber-opposed bill in the Business Advocacy total for the column listing actions “in accord with” the CalChamber’s position, if the legislator was not absent for the day. Bills Authors 2012 California Legislative Scorecard for Camarillo representatives Bill Descriptions/Outcomes = favorable to CalChamber position Assemblyman Jeff Gorell Senator Tony Strickland AB 1186 Skinner AB 1450 Allen AB 1687 Fong AB 2346 Butler AB 2408 Skinner SB 568 Lowenthal SB 863 De Leon SB 1054 Pavley SB 1118 Hancock SB 1161 Padilla SB 1186 Steinberg/ Dutton SB 1528 Steinberg Increases energy costs, fuel prices and consumers & businesses by allocating funds from an illegal toax to implement the market‐based trading mechanism of AB 32. Vetoed Before amandments would have subjected employers to charges of discrimination for inquiring into an applicant's most recent employment history. Vetoed Increases costs and incentivizes litigation by permitting the Workers' Comp. Appeals Board to award attorney's fees to an applicant challenging a decision regarding a future medical treatment award. Vetoed Could increase cost of food and force growers to move production to other states by creating unprecedented and excessive consequences for perceived and actual violations fo heat illness prevention regulations. Vetoed Harms struggling small businesses and state ups by not repeasling the Net Operating Loss carryback deduction. Died on Senate Floor Threatens thousands manufacturing jobs. By inappropriately banning polystyrene foam food service containers. Failed Passage in Assembly Offsets necessary increases in permanent disabilty benefits and potentially lowers system costs for employers. Signed Delays investments in oil and gas projects placing unnecessary & burdensome requirements on drilling companies. Failed Passage in Senate Establishes a new bureaucracy with unlimited fee authority and an onerous system for the collection and processing of used mattresses. Failed Provides certainty and a level playing field for CA business assuring Voice over Internet Protocol and Internet Protocol‐enabled services be regulated at federal level. Signed Seeks to limit frivolous litigation regarding technical violations concerning disability access, reducing statuary damages, increasing pleading requirements and banning pre‐litigation. Signed Artificially inflates medical damage awards in personal injury cases by allowing injured party to recover unincurred expenses. Failed Passage in Assembly Results of CalChamber Best Business Votes (votes for & votes against CalChamber positions) Nay No vote Aye Nay Nay Nay Aye N/A Nay Aye Aye Nay N/A Nay No vote N/A Nay Nay ABS Nay Aye Aye Nay ABS 10 of 11 7 of 11 Easy choice for you. Your friends. Your family. • Free Checking • Over 28,000 fee-free ATMs • Mortgage solutions • Auto and Personal loans • Mobile banking & bill pay • Investment planning Open to the public. Join us today. ACCREDITED BUSINESS 805.988.2151 | www.cbcfcu.org Camarillo | Oxnard | Thousand Oaks | Naval Base Ventura County The Journal Winter 2013 31
- Page 1 and 2: The Journal Inform Empower Advocate
- Page 3 and 4: The Journal Winter 2013 What’s In
- Page 5 and 6: About the Chamber Benefit from your
- Page 7 and 8: January 2013 7:00 a.m. 11 Business
- Page 9 and 10: Tri-Emerald Financial Ribbon Cuttin
- Page 11 and 12: Ten Tips Continued children use for
- Page 13 and 14: Support Local Business t Camarillo
- Page 15 and 16: Camarillo Chamber Member Listing -
- Page 17 and 18: Camarillo Chamber Member Listing -
- Page 19 and 20: Camarillo Chamber Member Listing -
- Page 21 and 22: Harrison Industries looks ahead on
- Page 23 and 24: Creating strong bonds is an importa
- Page 25 and 26: Chamber honors local educator with
- Page 27 and 28: The Chamber is pleased to introduce
- Page 29: Business Advocacy Chamber hires ded
®<br />
Cal<strong>Chamber</strong> Vote Record continued<br />
support the Cal<strong>Chamber</strong>’s opposition to a<br />
bill. In such cases, a legislator may abstain<br />
from voting, which will hinder passage <strong>of</strong> a<br />
bill, just as a “no” vote does. To recognize<br />
that not voting can aid the Cal<strong>Chamber</strong>’s<br />
opposition to a bill, the vote record includes<br />
the number <strong>of</strong> times legislators did not vote<br />
“aye” on a Cal<strong>Chamber</strong>-opposed bill in the<br />
Business Advocacy<br />
total for the column listing actions “in accord<br />
with” the Cal<strong>Chamber</strong>’s position, if<br />
the legislator was not absent for the day.<br />
Bills<br />
Authors<br />
2012 California Legislative Scorecard for <strong>Camarillo</strong> representatives<br />
Bill Descriptions/Outcomes<br />
= favorable to Cal<strong>Chamber</strong> position<br />
Assemblyman<br />
Jeff Gorell<br />
Senator Tony<br />
Strickland<br />
AB 1186<br />
Skinner<br />
AB 1450<br />
Allen<br />
AB 1687<br />
Fong<br />
AB 2346<br />
Butler<br />
AB 2408<br />
Skinner<br />
SB 568<br />
Lowenthal<br />
SB 863<br />
De Leon<br />
SB 1054<br />
Pavley<br />
SB 1118<br />
Hancock<br />
SB 1161<br />
Padilla<br />
SB 1186<br />
Steinberg/<br />
Dutton<br />
SB 1528<br />
Steinberg<br />
Increases energy costs, fuel prices and consumers & businesses by allocating funds from an illegal<br />
toax to implement the market‐based trading mechanism <strong>of</strong> AB 32. Vetoed<br />
Before amandments would have subjected employers to charges <strong>of</strong> discrimination for inquiring<br />
into an applicant's most recent employment history. Vetoed<br />
Increases costs and incentivizes litigation by permitting the Workers' Comp. Appeals Board to<br />
award attorney's fees to an applicant challenging a decision regarding a future medical treatment<br />
award. Vetoed<br />
Could increase cost <strong>of</strong> food and force growers to move production to other states by creating<br />
unprecedented and excessive consequences for perceived and actual violations fo heat illness<br />
prevention regulations. Vetoed<br />
Harms struggling small businesses and state ups by not repeasling the Net Operating Loss<br />
carryback deduction. Died on Senate Floor<br />
Threatens thousands manufacturing jobs. By inappropriately banning polystyrene foam food<br />
service containers. Failed Passage in Assembly<br />
Offsets necessary increases in permanent disabilty benefits and potentially lowers system costs for<br />
employers. Signed<br />
Delays investments in oil and gas projects placing unnecessary & burdensome requirements on<br />
drilling companies. Failed Passage in Senate<br />
Establishes a new bureaucracy with unlimited fee authority and an onerous system for the<br />
collection and processing <strong>of</strong> used mattresses. Failed<br />
Provides certainty and a level playing field for CA business assuring Voice over Internet Protocol<br />
and Internet Protocol‐enabled services be regulated at federal level. Signed<br />
Seeks to limit frivolous litigation regarding technical violations concerning disability access,<br />
reducing statuary damages, increasing pleading requirements and banning pre‐litigation. Signed<br />
Artificially inflates medical damage awards in personal injury cases by allowing injured party to<br />
recover unincurred expenses. Failed Passage in Assembly<br />
Results <strong>of</strong> Cal<strong>Chamber</strong> Best Business Votes (votes for & votes against Cal<strong>Chamber</strong> positions)<br />
Nay<br />
<br />
No vote<br />
<br />
Aye<br />
Nay<br />
<br />
Nay<br />
<br />
Nay<br />
<br />
Aye<br />
<br />
N/A<br />
Nay<br />
<br />
Aye<br />
<br />
Aye<br />
<br />
Nay<br />
<br />
N/A<br />
Nay<br />
<br />
No vote<br />
<br />
N/A<br />
Nay<br />
<br />
Nay<br />
ABS<br />
Nay<br />
<br />
Aye<br />
<br />
Aye<br />
<br />
Nay<br />
ABS<br />
<br />
10 <strong>of</strong> 11 7 <strong>of</strong> 11<br />
Easy choice for you.<br />
Your friends. Your family.<br />
• Free Checking<br />
• Over 28,000 fee-free ATMs<br />
• Mortgage solutions<br />
• Auto and Personal loans<br />
• Mobile banking & bill pay<br />
• Investment planning<br />
Open to the public. Join us today.<br />
ACCREDITED<br />
BUSINESS<br />
805.988.2151 | www.cbcfcu.org <strong>Camarillo</strong> | Oxnard | Thousand Oaks | Naval Base Ventura County<br />
The Journal <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2013</strong><br />
31
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