ADVOCACY

Business Friendliness

AB 1846 (M. Perez) Expedited Environmental Review--Support
Summary:  Streamlines the CEQA (environmental) approval process for certain projects by allowing them to go through an expedited environmental review through a focused environmental impact report.

Independent Contractor Withholding—Oppose
In an attempt to increase tax revenues, would require that three percent of payment to a contractor (any 1099-MISC payment) be withheld from the payment and remitted directly to the Franchise Tax Board.

Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act (Lungren)--Support
Would reverse a requirement found in the federal Healthcare Reform Act that would require businesses to submit 1099 forms to any provider from whom they purchase products or services of over $600 (including airline ticktes, office supplies, etc.).

Economic Development

AB 2492 (Ammiano) Higher Employer Property Taxes--Oppose
Undermines Proposition 13 protections and could result in higher property taxes for small businesses by creating an arbitrary and unfair standard for determining that a business property has changed ownership and needs to be reassessed.

SB 974 (Steinberg)--Oppose
Replaces Enterprise Zone tax credits with a Career Pathways Investment credits for entities that partner with education to support career pathways. Enterprise zones have been key to the development of several areas in the region.

AB 1998 (Brownley)--Oppose
Would prohibit retail stores from providing single-use carryout bags, allowing for reusable or recycled bags only, and require bi-annual certification from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery to ensure recyclable bag compliance.

SB 1391 (Yee) Creates Employer Tax Credit Uncertainty--Oppose
Would require employers to repay the State for investment tax credits received in years where their businesses experience a net loss of employees, whether or not the reduction of employees was connected to the initiative for which the credit was given.

Healthcare

SB 810 (Leno) Government-Run Health Care--Oppose
Creates a new government-run, multibillion-dollar socialized health care system based on a yet-to-be specified ‘premium structure’ — in essence, a tax on all employers.

Education

SB 1440  (Padilla)  Community College Transfer Degrees--Support
Would help college students complete their overall higher education pursuits by causing individual community colleges and four-year universities to create transfer degree agreements.

General

Proposition 20 --Support
Extends the authority of the Citizens Redistricting Commission to allow it to draw the new boundaries for U.S. Congressional districts at the same time they are drawing the boundaries for State Assembly districts. Otherwise Congressional redistricting will be done by State Legislature.