CA: Never-ending assault - 'Job-killer' bills before Legislature defy comprehension

San Diego Union - Tribune ^ | 5/26/09 | Editorial

[NormsRevenge]

As the state's acute budget crisis shows, it is absolutely crucial for California to have a hospitable business climate. Without a healthy economy, there is not enough tax revenue to sustain even basic government programs. One would think this would have finally sunk in with the Democrats who control the Legislature, given the plunge in revenue over the past two years and the resulting budget carnage.

One would be wrong. The California Chamber of Commerce's recently released list of “job-killer” bills now pending in Sacramento is like a greatest hits collection of anti-business legislation.

There are the usual attempts to roll back the workers' compensation reform that remain Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's greatest accomplishment, most notably a bill that would make employers liable for injuries that were not related to job duties or occurred before employment.

There are the usual extremist environmental measures, most notably the bill by Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, D-San Diego, to require all new residential buildings to generate a majority of their own power by 2020.

There are the usual attempts to expand the power of the state's green bureaucracy, most notably a bill giving regulators near-unlimited authority to impose new recycling burdens on certain industries and a bill giving the California Air Resources Board the power to unilaterally impose huge fees on any producer of greenhouse gases.

There are the usual attempts to make it easier for trial lawyers to sue deep-pockets targets, most notably a bill effectively ending the statute of limitations on any employment discrimination lawsuit.

There are the usual attempts to help unions by any means necessary, most notably a “card-check” bill that would allow union organizers to intimidate agricultural workers by eliminating private-ballot voting on whether to form a union.

In other words, it's a standard spring in Sacramento.

Unemployment may top 11 percent, the economy may be in its deepest recession in 70 years and other states may be wooing California businesses more ardently than ever, but Democratic lawmakers still continue their decade-long assault on the private sector.

The United States eventually will rebound from this recession. No one should be surprised, however, if the rebound is much weaker in California. The obstacles to an economic recovery are simply bigger here – and getting bigger all the time.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

A few years ago, the company I worked for wanted to build an asphalt storage facility in Stockton. After the air board, the county board and the neighborhood board got done with us, we built the thing in Reno.

[huldah1776]

Hey, maybe this is how the dems will control immigration. Why leave one third world nation for another?

[moodyskeptic]

Yes, we in California must apparently reach rock bottom before we change Sacramento. Last Tuesday we rejected the state’s obvious can-kicking propositions. We effectively told our state gov to confront its own horrible fiscal habits and they now, predictably, tantrum and lash out. Bankrupting this great state.

Sacramento will chase out evil corporations at an increasing rate. Wow.

THAT will teach the voters!

[jimtorr]

....... build an asphalt storage facility in Stockton. After the air board, the county board and the neighborhood board got done with us, we built the thing in Reno.

Well, sure! Everybody knows that asphalt is only used in California by evil polluters. All pavement in the state is pure as ...... well, as the boards you mentioned. Nobody cares, apparently, that paving is much more expensive when the pavement binding material has to come over the Sierra.

[3catsanadog]

There are the usual extremist environmental measures, most notably the bill by Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, D-San Diego, to require all new residential buildings to generate a majority of their own power by 2020.

I can see it now. In the basement areas, workers will be tasked with running on the giant treadmill that generates electricity for the building.

[JoanneSD]

This will be green jobs..from the stimulus bill

[PogySailor]

There are the usual extremist environmental measures, most notably the bill by Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, D-San Diego, to require all new residential buildings to generate a majority of their own power by 2020.

LOL! Insane.

[willgolfforfood]

Isn’t that what...uh... UTILITIES are for?

[Noumenon]

The company I work for is in the concrete-asphalt-aggregate production and delivery business. Nation-wide coverage. California is one of the notable exceptions. And just for the same reasons the company you mentioned decided to go for Reno.

There are a few other states - like Illinois (BlagoLand) - where we simply do not find it a friendly or profitable place to do business.

[Noumenon]

You can’t ship asphalt, although you can ship the raw materials used to make it. Like cement, it has to be produced fairly near the places where it’s going to be used.

[p. henry]

I live in San Diego. I used to have a client that manufactures furniture. That client has long since departed to friendlier climes that are not as concernced about the purity of their atmosphere. A number of such businesses moved south to Tijuana. Although our winds usually blow from the west, I am certain that some of the pollutants that are now being produced in Mexico end up in San Diego’s air.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Rail cars have heating coils so the liquid can be heated once the cars arrive at the terminal. At least one trucking outfit I do business with has heated trailers. I have shipped hard pen asphalt and oxidized asphalt in steel trailers that can keep the liquid in the 375-395 range.
It was a pity that the Stockton deal didn't work out. I was living in Mpls at the time and regularly flew into Oakland to work out details. I always enjoyed being in California. The city of Stockton people were looking for tenants on the old US Army facility on the river.

[Mamzelle]

re: There are the usual attempts to roll back the workers' compensation reform that remain Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's greatest accomplishment, most notably a bill that would make employers liable for injuries that were not related to job duties or occurred before employment.)))

Huh? Is there a word or two missing?

[Syrin23]

I don't agree with the summary. I don't think we will recover from this recession. Too much permanent damage is being done and will be done to business. Eventually these will move to nations more conducive to busniess.

[Sarajevo]

THAT will teach the voters!

But your cows are happy;)

[RipSawyer]

“The United States eventually will rebound from this recession.”
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When? Someone please name one REALISTIC reason to expect things to improve within the next TEN years. Government action won’t do it, only government inaction plus repeal of much of what government has done in the past would give me any hope and I see no reason to expect that.

There is one form of government action that would probably help, seal the borders and throw out a few million who never should have been here, fat chance of that.

[VeniVidiVici]

I bet several companies from Silicon Valley packup and move to Austin.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

My word, you were talking about pouring raw oil onto the ground! I can see the polar bears faliing around in their death throes as I type this!

[phillyfanatic]

For years, I was the political chair of my local Chamber. We fought every job killing bill. But, but, the lemmings continue to elect liberal Dems in Sac. So, of course, the economy of Ca. can directly be laid at their feet. Tax and spend is what they know. We need fair re-districting but will not get it. Ca., like the nation is now going into a socialist pacifist spin.