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CA: State legislators OK bill requiring 'living wage'
San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | 9/11/03 | AP

Posted on 09/11/2003 7:19:34 AM PDT by NormsRevenge

SACRAMENTO – Most state workers and employees of certain companies that do business with the state would have to be paid a "living wage" of at least $10 an hour under legislation sent to Gov. Gray Davis yesterday.

The measure by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Santa Clara, was given final approval by the Assembly on a 43-33 vote that accepted Senate amendments to the legislation.

Under the bill, certain companies that sign state contracts of $50,000 or more would have to pay their employees at least $10 an hour if they also provided the workers with health insurance.

For companies with no health coverage, the minimum wage would be $12 an hour.

The wage requirement would be adjusted each year to reflect inflation.

The bill includes a number of exemptions, including current contracts and contracts for janitorial, housekeeping, window washing and security services if the wages were at least 85 percent of comparable state pay.

It also would exempt companies that sign union contracts with their employees.

Republicans charged the bill was designed to raise the minimum wage to $10 in California and that it would cost jobs.

Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles, said a similar "living wage" ordinance adopted by the city of Los Angeles helped the economy and didn't result in a shortage of bids for city contracts.

Also yesterday, prospective foster parents will get more anti-discrimination training under a bill signed by Davis requiring them to respect the race, ethnicity, religion and sexual preference of foster care children.

The bill's author, Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, said the bill will protect 250,000 foster children from living in homes where they're singled out, insulted or assaulted based on their backgrounds. It also makes foster parents watch training presentations about the state's anti-discrimination law.

Republicans objected to the bill earlier this year, calling it part of a social agenda to advance gay rights, and predicted the bill would cause a greater shortage of foster parents.

Opponents said most foster parents have faith-based households and believe homosexuality is wrong.

"Discrimination, in any form, humiliates people and foster children are especially vulnerable to this," Davis said.

In other legislative action yesterday:

 Davis signed SB90, by Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Martinez, which makes landlords provide receipts and documents related to charges deducted from renter's security deposit.

 The governor signed SB515, by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, which limits frivolous lawsuits filed by corporations against consumers.

 The Assembly sent to the Senate SB892, by Sen. Kevin Murray, D-Culver City, which requires public and private schools to meet maintenance standards for restrooms. It also allows the state to withhold funds from schools that fail to keep bathrooms clean.

 The Senate passed and sent to the Assembly AB1340, by Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, which requires oil refiners, producers and operators to submit weekly rather than monthly reports to California Energy Commission about inventory levels, imports and exports.

 The Senate also passed and sent to the Assembly AB455, by Chu, which bans by 2006 packaging materials that include lead, cadmium, mercury or hexavalent chromium.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: bill; calgov2002; california; livingwage; recall; requiring; statelegislators
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To: NormsRevenge
Will this "living wage" bill apply to the illegal fruit-pickers or only to the native-borns?
41 posted on 09/11/2003 12:12:45 PM PDT by jpl
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To: Wright is right!
I'm guessing that a thorough analysis would show that this bill is not going to cost ANYONE - including the State of Colly Farnia - one more thin dime. Because anyone covered by the bill is either already making that much or is a union member or is exempt. Political grandstanding at its finest.

Sometimes, I'm extremely proud to be a Freeper.

42 posted on 09/11/2003 12:20:30 PM PDT by golder
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To: NormsRevenge
The Senate passed and sent to the Assembly AB1340, by Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, which requires oil refiners, producers and operators to submit weekly rather than monthly reports to California Energy Commission about inventory levels, imports and exports.

Are they trying to commit suicide? Because that is the only way that this kind of behavior makes sense.

43 posted on 09/11/2003 12:20:51 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Retribution is inevitable.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Okay, so when will California pass the "maximum wage?" Since they now know what a "living wage" is, when will they decide that someone is making much more than is necessary to live on?

-PJ

44 posted on 09/11/2003 12:24:00 PM PDT by Political Junkie Too (It's not safe yet to vote Democrat.)
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To: NormsRevenge
Join Us…Your One Thread To All The California Recall News Threads!

Want on our daily or major news ping lists? Freepmail DoctorZin

45 posted on 09/11/2003 12:42:28 PM PDT by DoctorZIn
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To: NormsRevenge
Also yesterday, prospective foster parents will get more anti-discrimination training under a bill signed by Davis requiring them to respect the race, ethnicity, religion and sexual preference of foster care children.

You're supposed to respect little Johnny when you catch him boinking the family dog, dontcha know?

46 posted on 09/11/2003 12:44:40 PM PDT by jimt
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Why $10 an hour?

That's not a living a wage in California coast. Maybe in the Central Valley but not in the Bay Area.

What about $30 an hour?

If the government of California has the power to create prosperity, let it go for the real thing.

Minimum wages in California at $30 an hour will stimulate the economy so much that Davis will become a superhero.

[/s]

47 posted on 09/11/2003 12:48:56 PM PDT by george wythe
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To: george wythe
Absolutely...why should the cheap ba$tards get by on a measly $10/hr?


Hell...why not $30/hr?
48 posted on 09/11/2003 1:22:46 PM PDT by gogeo (A man can be judged by the quality of his supporters...and of his enemies.)
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To: golder
"Sometimes, I'm extremely proud to be a Freeper."

Just doing the perspective that the herd of reporters don't even think of doing. It never even occured to them to ASK how many people this would directly affect. Or if they DID - and came up with MY analysis, then they simply and neatly left it out of the story.

Michael

49 posted on 09/11/2003 2:04:28 PM PDT by Wright is right! (Have a profitable day!)
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To: Wright is right!
Wright is right! said: "I'm guessing that a thorough analysis would show that this bill is not going to cost ANYONE ..."

Doesn't the legislative process in Kalifornia include an assessment of fiscal impact for bills before they go to the floor of the legislature? Perhaps someone can research what the analysis of this bill suggests.

50 posted on 09/11/2003 2:48:41 PM PDT by William Tell
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To: tophat9000
tophat9000 said: "Lets get Arnold stand on this one shall we...."

A Kalifornia "living wage" mandated by the state will encourage employers to locate in other states. A federal "minimum wage" encourages employers to move jobs offshore.

If Arnold believes in the federal minimum wage then I see no reason to anticipate that he would have a problem with a Kalifornia minimum wage. Perhaps Arnold might think that the wage should be $9.75 or $10.25 but the concept is probably acceptable.

Does McClintock believe that it is government's job to mandate what wage a person should be paid?

I doubt it. Perhaps an Arnold supporter can surprise me here.

51 posted on 09/11/2003 2:55:12 PM PDT by William Tell
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To: William Tell
Does McClintock believe that it is government's job to mandate what wage a person should be paid?

One of Tom main point from the get go is to have California's minimum wage to be in line with the federal (and he has no control over the federal)

52 posted on 09/11/2003 3:01:13 PM PDT by tophat9000 (Welcome one and all to........The Great Toad Boil !!! .......................Sponsor by R-nulled)
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To: FastCoyote
I'm in Nevada. We thought we already had seen the stampede, but it's like canons are going off and lightning and a brush fire all at the same time.

Perhaps you'd be wise to set up security along the California border. I'd recommend an air strike on I-15 at the border, but I suspect that would hurt the tourist business in Vegas.

53 posted on 09/11/2003 3:03:35 PM PDT by meyer
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To: jpl
Will this "living wage" bill apply to the illegal fruit-pickers or only to the native-borns?

The illegals will continue to pick at a cheap wage, since their employment is "under the table".

54 posted on 09/11/2003 3:07:27 PM PDT by meyer
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To: NormsRevenge
Liberal California is like a drug addict in denial. Liberal California cannot admit that 40+ years of social engineering has failed utterly and miserably. Only when California becomes completely bankrupt and its citizens are treated like foreigners and companies stay away permanently will they wake up...maybe. Let them drive their state into oblivion...there are 49 other states in the Union to welcome California's businesses with open arms.
55 posted on 09/11/2003 3:07:47 PM PDT by medscribe
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To: NormsRevenge
The bill's author, Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, said the bill will protect 250,000 foster children from living in homes where they're singled out, insulted or assaulted based on their backgrounds. It also makes foster parents watch training presentations about the state's anti-discrimination law.

It's for the children!

56 posted on 09/11/2003 4:11:19 PM PDT by Fraulein (TCB)
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
When you "legislate" a living wage you just drive out businesses.

A legislated minimum price for something means that if its market value falls below the minimum price, it becomes almost completely worthless. Price floors thus have the opposite of the claimed effect.

57 posted on 09/11/2003 9:32:07 PM PDT by supercat (TAG--you're it!)
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To: meyer
The illegals will continue to pick at a cheap wage, since their employment is "under the table".

Though the way CA tax rates are going, a wage of $1 under the table might be worth more than $10 over, even to a legal citizen.

58 posted on 09/11/2003 9:35:34 PM PDT by supercat (TAG--you're it!)
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To: supercat
A legislated minimum price for something means that if its market value falls below the minimum price, it becomes almost completely worthless.

True, which is why the free market has to determine these things and not government bureaucrats.

59 posted on 09/12/2003 2:10:08 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
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