Not Just Enviros, Biz Also Split on Cap-n-Trade Bills; GOP Might Hold the Key
Much has been made in news reports that the environmental community is not of one mind on the cap-and-trade bills produced by the governor’s negotiations. They are not alone. The business community is split as well. Tom Scott, Executive Director of the National Federation of Small Business/California argues on behalf of his membership that small […]
Cap and Trade Deal Will Raise Costs, Hurt Small Businesses
California has a full-time legislature with more staff than any other state in the nation, but for some reason, Governor Brown and the Supermajority Party have made it a habit of reserving large, sweeping public policy actions for private closed-door deal making and rushed votes before arbitrary deadlines. The $15 minimum wage hike, the gas […]
Harris Should Make the Central Valley a Priority – For State and National Reasons
U.S. Senator and potential presidential candidate Kamala Harris got some attention for a recent trip to the Central Valley, where she talked with industrial farmers. It was billed as a first step to develop relationship in the Valley. Harris would be wise to do much more—the Valley is a two-fer for her, since it allows […]
Another Big Bill to Bring Californians Water
(Editor’s Note: the following are the comments on the House floor by Congressman and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy on H.R. 23, a bill to bring more water to California.) “Now, Mr. Speaker, water is not optional. Not in my district. Not in California. Not anywhere. But over the past five years my constituents have struggled to […]
SF Take Note, E-Cigs May Be Gateway Away from Smoking
Banning flavored e-cigarettes has been proposed in San Francisco and elsewhere as a way to make these smokeless and nicotine vapor products less attractive to children and teens. While that may seem a sensible and self-evident conclusion, scientific evidence strongly suggests that such bans would likely do more harm than good. Current American tobacco control […]