Still waiting for reasonable policies to launch long-term job creation

In the closing weeks (or months) of California’s 2010 legislative
session, there are some easy decisions to make in a morass of tough
budgetary ones.  Lawmakers can get control of the state’s spiraling
regulatory environment and reconsider simple concepts on economic
analysis on new and existing regulations.

Dozens of bills died in the last few months that would demonstrate the
state’s commitment to improve government decision making and signal
that California welcomes long-term job creation and economic growth. 
What can possibly be wrong with arming a jobs-sensitive legislature
with job-impact information so they can make informed decisions?

A flyer — titled Still Waiting — and a copy of a previous letter
— supported by more than 350 companies — were distributed this week
to the Legislature to reinforce that the employer community is still
waiting for these very simple and obvious measures.

8 Reasons to Leverage California’s Venture Capital With a Competitive Environment

California receives a majority of U.S. venture capital (VC).  Always
has, hopefully always will.  Our state produces brilliant creative
minds and ideas because of its University power and its sheer size of
35 million people.  This unique outcome alone does not however equate,
by default, to the meaningful job growth necessary for our many workers
whom are unemployed and under-employed (a term becoming all too common
for the folks forced to take any job they can find).

We must leverage our built-in VC advantage to ensure that emerging
green and other products are actually produced here.  California’s
wealth will be multiplied once VC cash gets beyond the investment board
room offices and into the bank accounts of our very own hard working,
middle class families.

Recently the LA Times wrote a piece about VC growth in California and the notion
that it does, and will, open the floodgates to new green jobs.  Often
the state’s VC numbers are used to support bold California-only
mandates and policies, without regard for the state’s competitive
disadvantage.   Now the impressive amount of VC investment is being used to justify opposition to Proposition 23 — the
ballot initiative to suspend AB 32 until our economy is in better shape
and unemployment numbers are reduced.

Where’s The Beef? Can Venture Capital Save California?

How many times have you heard something like the following in response
to the state’s job decline and overall economic implosion?

"But California is the venture capital of the country."

"But we have so much cleantech investment, we’re going to lead the country."

800,000 Californians sign to put CA’s economy first and signal ‘welcome mat’ for manufacturers

The campaign to suspend AB 32’s global warming regulations until California’s economy and unemployment recovers submitted double the signatures needed today to qualify the "California Jobs Initiative" for the November ballot.

The initiative got more than 800,000 signatures, far above the 433,971 needed.  The state’s citizens understand that implementing AB 32 at the right time in the right way is not an anti-environment position.  It’s a path to improve our economy first through job growth — with high wage and ‘green’ manufacturing jobs at the center of that recovery — and a way to see if the rest of the country will follow with their own global warming mandates.  Today’s announcement makes clear that the California voters don’t want to go it alone on costly greenhouse gas reductions.

The poor, unfortunate, disadvantaged tax agency

Today, all Californians can rest easy knowing that the State of California’s tax enforcement and administration functions are split between two agencies.  The Franchise Tax Board (FTB), who administers the Personal Income and Corporation Tax laws, and the Board of Equalization (BOE), whose responsibilities include the administration of the state’s sales and use taxes, excise tax, special taxes and fees, as well as property valuation.

In addition to the BOE’s regular duties, the Board also serves as adjudicator of personal and corporate income and tax appeals after specific issues have exhausted the FTB’s administrative dispute process. Under current law, if the BOE denies the taxpayer’s appeal, the taxpayer may bring action in state court.  However, if the FTB’s original decision is overturned, the taxpayer has prevailed and the issue is considered resolved.

Create California jobs through efficient, effective regulations and renewed commitment to economic development

Today, in an open letter to the Legislature, more than 300 companies will support a campaign to expand the Legislature’s oversight of California’s government agencies and make the state more attractive to new investment and jobs. The employer community will announce a bipartisan agenda to ensure lawmakers have the independent economic analysis they need to make job creation a priority. Senators Rod Wright and Bob Dutton will join with representatives of the coalition in the Capitol at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the regulatory and economic development proposals.

We must understand the impact new rules and regulations will have on job creation. Recent trends, resulting in unaccecptable job and wage loss for California workers are alarming and unsustainable. Site Selection magazine has released new research showing, over the last three years, California averaged only 3.7 new or expanded industrial facilities per 1 million people, while the national average was 28.7. These results coupled with the fourth worst unemployment rate in the nation and an eroding manufacturing base requires a new perspective on California’s regulatory and economic development priorities.

California does not need more tax penalties

The LA Times’ Evan Halper wrote a piece on Monday, ‘Group fights plan to fine tax cheats‘, regarding a tax refund penalty provision buried in Senator Lois Wolk’s otherwise worthy tax relief bill SBX8 32.  The focus of concern in this bill is a controversial penalty on misclaimed refunds.  Whether or not one agrees with the policy of a refund penalty, it is important that controversial policies stay out of a federal tax conformity bill.  The conformity bill, over 100 pages, must have consensus or its demise is certain.

Typically, controversial provisions are passed outside the conformity bill process, which is why items like the Health Savings Account and the Research and Development Credit conformities have not been included in past omnibus conformity bills.

‘Cool Cars’ embodies Sacramento’s ‘bumbling, well-intentioned, paternalistic nonsense’

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is looking to finalize its “Cool Cars” policy this Thursday (** this was corrected from original blog that said “Wednesday”**), once again putting regulation before reason and imposing knee jerk command-and-control mandates with no regard for economic impacts and, in this case, public safety.

Here’s the nickel tour:

CARB’s  “Cool Cars” policy was set up in 2009 as an AB 32 early action item to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by reflecting heat away from cars, thereby requiring less air conditioning and less fuel.

Leadership on jobs growth emerging

California has often claimed leadership on many big issues and movements.  It’s time for policymakers to claim leadership where it matters most — growing our job base.  A 12.4% unemployment rate, a $20 billion state deficit, a manufacturing sector that lost more than 607,000 jobs since the decline started, and a negative 5.97 public-to-private sector job ratio since 2001 leaves California in a stranglehold of deterioration.

Both parties introduced jobs packages in the last 24 hours that indicate the Legislature is now focused on leading us out of this mess with a policy environment that at least thinks of job impacts first.   Up until now, the employer, employee and unemployed communities in California were left wondering why California leads on everything but jobs and our economy.

Why not California — MiaSole and Facebook

California took more employment and innovation bruises this month with two announcements from companies producing the state’s favorite products – web technology and solar power.

Palo Alto based Facebook will build new facility in Oregon

Employing 200 people during construction and 35 full time employees upon completion

"The social media powerhouse confirmed Thursday that it has picked the economically depressed Central Oregon town for Facebook’s first company-owned data center, drawn to the region by reliable and affordable power, a favorable climate and tax breaks."

Article link

Silicon Valley based MiaSole solar company will build manufacturing facility in Georgia
Employing potentially 1,000 workers