Housing shortage biggest threat to California’s growth
The overall California economy is humming along quite nicely, and even though we may be overdue for a turn in the business cycle, there are few indications of the threats to economic growth that usually precede a downturn. Parts of the Bay Area and Southern California are beyond full employment, which means some California regions […]
CalChamber poll finds voters open to a middle lane
Last week in this space we summarized the findings of the Third Annual CalChamber Poll, which found California voters generally anxious about the future. Voters are very concerned about the cost of living – especially as it might affect the ability of their children to live in California. They cite the cost of housing, taxes and […]
CalChamber Poll Finds Voters’ Concerns at Odds with Political Leaders
Californians are anxious. The economy is growing, the state budget is balanced and the rains have resumed. Yet California voters are apprehensive about the future. They worry that state leaders are not addressing the issues that truly concern them, according to the third annual CalChamber Poll. For the first time in three years of polling, […]
Plaintiffs’ lawyers appreciate Legislature’s data dump
In a recent article about a job-killing bill that threatens more workplace litigation, CalChamber’s Jennifer Barrera and the internet trade association ComTIA’s Kara Bush stated, “By using the smokescreen of transparency, the bill author and her plaintiffs’ attorneys allies aim to unravel the carefully structured compromise. In effect, the legislation would require employers to serve up reams of data […]
Think long before regulating the internet
Don’t look now but California wants to regulate your internet. What could go wrong? Consumers are rightfully concerned about data security and personal privacy. Data breaches, hacking and poor personal security practices have compromised internet users’ financial and personal information. Large majorities of Americans want to improve their control over their own personal information. But […]
Voters want housing shortage addressed
California voters are anxious about housing affordability and skeptical of laws that would increase housing costs and worker commutes. During the next two weeks, Governor Brown and the Legislature will attempt to address some of those anxieties – considering tax increases or new state debt to subsidize affordable housing. They will also debate limited incentives […]
Supreme Court defends local initiatives, but may threaten taxpayer protections
A California Supreme Court decision makes it easier to raise some local taxes. But how much easier remains to be seen. For two decades, local tax increases have usually been governed by Proposition 218, whether proposed by a local government agency or by citizen initiative. Passed by voters in 1996, Proposition 218 requires voter approval of all […]
Cap-and-trade deal also cut taxes
As part of a comprehensive, bipartisan solution implementing the state’s ambitious climate change goals, the legislation that extended the cap-and-trade program also included several useful tax reductions. These tax cuts will help mitigate cost increases on rural Californians and partially offset some costs for California manufacturers and energy producers. Sales tax exemption Manufacturers gained a […]
Cap-and-trade will cost less than current regulatory regime
California has the most ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal in this or any other country. By 2030, Californians must reduce carbon emissions by 40 percent below our already-constrained 2020 levels. California produces only one percent of GHG emissions, but we outpunch our weight in global influence on climate policy. If we can meet our […]
Consensus: cap-and-trade extension requires a two-thirds legislative vote
The California Supreme Court recently declined to review the 2-1 split decisionby the Appellate Court, which ruled that California’s current cap-and-trade auction is not a tax requiring a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. The legislative authorization for the current cap-and-trade auction was adopted in 2006 with the passage of AB 32, which authorized the cap-and-trade program through 2020. […]