Why this Republican is Endorsing Hillary Clinton
I have been a Republican since I became a US Citizen in 1984 and was proud to vote for Ronald Reagan’s reelection. Eventually, I was given the incredible honor to be the United States Treasurer, the first Mexican-born to hold this title. I have been a loyal, trusted and fiery fighter for every Republican presidential […]
On the Road Again: Braving rental cars and bad coffee on the Summer of Small Business Tour
Last month, I attended the Orange County Small Business Council for a roundtable discussion on how small businesses are faring with state contracts. The Council is comprised of four prominent chambers of commerce in the region. After I opened the meeting, detailing the progress that the state has made in contracting with small businesses and existing incentives, the room was eerily silent. Slowly, board members began acknowledging that they had no idea that the state was so eager to do business with small businesses. Few were familiar with the Executive Order Governor Schwarzenegger had put out calling for the state to use at least 25 percent of it’s massive purchasing power with small businesses and disabled veterans business enterprises (DVBEs).
I couldn’t believe it; I knew it was time for my agency to take its show on the road.
We all know about the doom and gloom that is being reported on the nation’s current economic state, so it is especially important in these tough times that California’s businesses know the state is focusing on increasing its small business and DVBE contracts. After leaving the roundtable discussion, it became clear that bad hotel coffee and rental cars awaited me. Our state’s small businesses need to hear it from the real McCoy: California is open for business.
Each day 6.8 million Californians – half our state’s workforce – go to work at small businesses across the state. Their work in construction, manufacturing and service industries allow the small business sector to grow and drive our economy.