As this week winds down with the influx of bills to be passed and signed things are very hectic in Sacramento. It seems the only concern of our legislators is to ensure they are passing and promoting bills that help them with their financial supporters. They do need to build a war chest for the up and coming elections and are focused on supporting things that will help them keep their job.

Public Servant is defined by Miriam Webster as a government official or employee. My definition is someone who holds a prominent position and has the influence shape our laws and society. Their decisions are supposed to be fair for all, not the biggest donor influencing their vote on bills.

What does a California Business truly deal with while trying to run a business in California? The highest workers compensation rate in the nation. The highest minimum wage in the nation. A 1,400 Page labor law digest that most do not understand. Business owners have to deal with the most regulations in the United States and enough red tape to circle the globe several times.

As business owners watch to see what bill will be passed that will help them, they see more that will make their lives more difficult. AB 2658 is a bill defined as “a mathematically secured, chronological, and calls for the establishment of a working group on block chain technology”,  it has passed both houses of the state legislature and will now head to the governor for approval and requires the Secretary of the Government Operations Agency to form a blockchain working group on or before July 1, 2019. What does that even mean?

SB 100 would require California to obtain 100% of its power from clean sources by 2045. Realistic or another vote getter? The state assembly approved more funding to cut down the wait times at the DMV, throwing 16 million at it immediately and another 26 million was requested. SB 10 passes to end bail for criminals and would make California the first state in the nation to get rid of cash bail.

So what about business? Where is their relief and help. The Private Attorneys General Act needs reform and good companies are being sued every day over late lunches, miscalculated bonuses, misclassified employees, or whatever the trial attorneys can come up with. The business owners have had enough and all of them are tired of being made out to be villains. The business owners provide jobs, revenue for the state, revenue for their suppliers, jobs for their suppliers, and what has made America the land of opportunity.

Milton Friedman once quoted,” When government is in pursuit of good intentions and tries to rearrange the economy, legislate morality, or help special interests, the costs come in inefficiency, lack of motivation, and loss of freedom. Government should be a referee, not an active player.” It is time to support relief for business owners.