Three weeks from today, 100 business and community leaders will come together for the Chamber’s annual ACCESS Sacramento trip, advocating for legislation and policies that will rebuild the California economy, create new jobs and deliver essential services for the people of California. Decisions made this legislative session will determine the rate of business growth, the number of new jobs created and the strength of our education system. Every day businesses are being stymied by anti-competitive regulations, lack of investment in core infrastructure and an unprepared workforce. The Chamber will be focusing our advocacy in a number of key areas:
- Maintaining California’s economic competitiveness through modernization of the California Environmental Quality Act and legislation that invests in job creation.
- Providing certainty to business by opposing changes to California’s landmark Proposition 13, which has created stability to both business and local revenue.
- Planning for long-term reliability and affordability through the development of a comprehensive energy plan and appropriate use of cap and trade revenues to mitigate costs for businesses.
- Investing in our aging infrastructure, including securing a reliable water supply and mechanisms in a post-Community Redevelopment Agency world.
- Supporting business-friendly policies, which will lead to a full implementation of health care reform while retaining network adequacy to provide care and ensuring stabilization of rates over the long term.
- Providing adequate housing to reduce homelessness and create jobs through policies in line with Home for Good, an initiative of the Chamber and United Way of Greater Los Angeles.
- Strengthening our education system by promoting Linked Learning, developing strong curriculum, assessments and standards, and improving workforce development outcomes.
California has the third highest unemployment rate in the nation and still has more than 600,000 fewer jobs than we had at the start of the recession. Your voice and your business stories are vital as we meet with dozens of legislators (many new to state office), agency heads and statewide elected officials to advocate for a stronger economy. Join us May 13-14 to share with California leadership our vision for restoring the golden state.