Category Archives: Budget Crisis
AB 1616: Budget Bill Increases EZ Voucher Fee
A series of trailer bills will need to be voted on in order to facilitate the finalization of the budget compromise. There is one bill that will effect the Enterprise Zone program directly, AB 1616 which will increase the fee paid to HCD for each voucher application from $10 to $15.
Budget Deal Details Released
Here is the summary of the deal reached by the “Big 5″ to solve the budget. The Budget Conference Committee will hold a hearing this afternoon to review the proposals. Here are revenue raising proposals: The negotiated budget includes $2.5 billion in revenue solutions. More that half of this, $1.4 billion, is from the Legislative [...]
The Governor’s Budget Ultimatum
The Governor has published an Op-Ed in today’s Wall Street Journal stating that he will not sign a budget until meaningful reforms are made to public employee pensions: Recently some critics have accused me of bullying state employees. Headlines in California papers this month have been screaming “Gov assails state workers” and “Schwarzenegger threatens state [...]
Gov Defends Tax Incentives on YouTube
The Governor released the following YouTube message last Friday addressing the current budget situation. There are plenty of interesting elements, including a defense of tax incentives. A few of the comments: I believe in lower taxes, in small government and in helping our employers and entrepreneurs create jobs and grow revenue. The other side believes [...]
California #1 in Tax Increases
The National Conference of State Legislatures has released a new report showing that of the States that imposed tax increases last year, California’s were the most, and that last year’s tax increases were the largest in California’s history. From the Sacramento Bee: California wasn’t alone when it boosted state taxes last year to cope with [...]
Report: “21% of California Small Businesses on the Brink”
As reported in CalWatchdog.com: A report released last week showed that 21 percent of California small businesses believe they will fold in the next three years. The annual survey, conducted by advocacy group Small Business California, revealed low confidence in the state’s business and political climate among business owners. “That 21-percent figure is particularly shocking,” [...]
SanDiego.com: “State budget crunch endangers local enterprise zones”
From SanDiego.com: By Eilene Zimmerman Grappling with a $20 billion deficit isn’t easy. The California Legislature has put just about everything on the chopping block, including Medi-Cal, college and university funding, public education and prisons. So it’s not a huge surprise that the latest suggestion from the California Legislative Analyst’s Office is to cut the [...]
100 Cases of Businesses Leaving California
A colleague brought to my attention “The Business Relocation Coach” blog which claims as its mission, “to help businesses relocate and expand facilities in highly beneficial ways. This blog is maintained by JV Executive Consulting, inc., which helps design the smoothest relocation to the most desirable location that meets business goals. An experienced team serves [...]
Labor Groups Behind Attacks on Enterprise Zones
Here is a letter (click here to see the scan) which has been floating around the Capitol for the last number of weeks from the California Labor Federation. The letter calls on Legislators to vote “no” on any of the Governor’s job creation legislation, and uses the opportunity to make a special attack of the [...]
New Hearing on Enterprise Zones in State Senate
The Senate Daily File includes an “Informational Hearing” on the Enterprise Zone program on February 24. The hearing is being held by Rev. & Tax. Committee Chair, Senator Wolk and will be in room 3191 at 1:30 pm.
Breaking: Steinberg Jobs Package Includes Hit On Enterprise Zones
The California Senate Majority Caucus has released the list of bills in its 27 bill “Jobs Package.” They claim that This comprehensive bill package invests existing state and federal funds for targeted projects, expands jobs in the new economy, prepares Californians for jobs in growth industries, and provides working families with sorely needed relief. The [...]
Senator Steinberg Unveils Democratic Jobs Package
From the Sacramento Bee: Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg today unveiled a Democratic plan he said would create an estimated 140,600 to 197,600 jobs in California. Steinberg, D-Sacramento, said the Democratic Caucus in the Legislature is introducing 27 bills that are part of an employment plan “that is real, not partisan, not hype.” He [...]
San Diego Business Journal: “Maintain, Expand California’s Enterprise Zone Program”
A commentary in the San Diego Business Journal by Dan Dufrense, director of government relations for Epsilon Systems Solutions Inc. (a business that employs people): Here we go again. California is strapped with more than $20 billion of deficit, a 12.3 percent unemployment rate and a staggering decline in home values. Faced with these daunting [...]
CAEZ Letter Writing Campaign
CAEZ is launching a letter writing campaign in support of the Enterprise Zone program. From the CAEZ.org website: DATED: Wednesday, February 3, 2010 URGENT! State Legislators are discussing possible cuts to or total elimination of the Enterprise Zone Program. Time is critical, decisions will be made within the next few weeks. CALL TO ACTION – [...]
Gov. Wants Legislators to Follow Pres. Obama’s Lead
As reported in Capitol Alert: The Republican governor had his staff install outside his office a repeating video loop of President Barack Obama telling ABC News on Monday, “I can guarantee that the worst thing we could do would be to raise taxes when the economy is still this weak.” The display is in a [...]
