State Officials and Unions Will Never Have All the Money They Want

Proposition 15, the split-roll property tax measure on the November ballot, would seriously affect family businesses throughout the state by raising taxes on commercial property by an estimated $11.5 billion a year. As the owners of family-owned Holt of California and chairman of the Family Business Association of California, I know how hard it will […]

Unleash private enterprise to jumpstart California’s economy with these four moves

Two months into California’s economic lockdown, it’s time to start working on creating a V-shaped economic recovery.  Gov. Gavin Newsom has shown strong leadership during the past couple months in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Now he needs to unleash the power of private enterprise to protect our livelihoods. He made the right decision in […]

It’s Time for California to Put Family-Business Designation into State Law

Family businesses have been the backbone of California’s bustling economy since statehood. I’ve witnessed this firsthand as the proud owner of a family business that dates back to 1931, providing Caterpillar equipment in 16 counties throughout the state — from Merced to Yuba City — for a wide range of customer needs, including heavy construction […]

Frivolous PAGA Lawsuits Don’t Help Workers or Employees

Fourteen years ago, California set up a new method for enforcing its complex wage and hour laws. The legislation, called the Private Attorneys General Act, or PAGA, allows private attorneys to sue employers on behalf of a class of company employees. The ostensible motivation behind the law was to protect workers. But in reality, PAGA […]

Don’t Tax Family Businesses Out of California

Family businesses are the bedrock of our communities and the economy. A recent study showed that the state’s 1.4 million family businesses employ 7 million people. Family businesses tend to pay their employees better, train them better, and provide more generous benefits than nonfamily companies. We’re also less likely to significantly downsize during tough economic […]

Time to Act—Pass Comprehensive Tax Reform

Last Tuesday, President Trump outlined his legislative priorities before a joint session of Congress. While pundits quickly jumped on the president’s departure from his off-the-cuff approach, I’m glad to see that his agenda has received a great deal of air time in the past few days. Among the issues President Trump promised to address was […]