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2008
Legislative Accomplishments
December 20, 2008
Chambers Successful In Representing
Business Interests In 2008
The Temecula Valley, Murrieta and Lake Elsinore Valley
Chambers of Commerce successfully represented the
interests of the regional business community at all
levels of government throughout the past year. The
Chambers secured state and federal legislation to
protect investments in transportation, redevelopment and
other local funds.
The Chambers involved many business people in its
government affairs process. They hosted a legislative
summit with hundreds of business people in attendance to
address critical needs of our community. The Chambers
also lead a delegation of businesses to Sacramento to
meet with key statewide decision-makers to discuss
proposed laws that impact Temecula’s economy.
The following is a list of 2008 accomplishments:
The Chambers tracked 25 potential new laws in 2008 that
may have had an impact on our business community. The
Chambers focused their efforts in the past year on the
most critical potential laws that would impact the
business community in a negative way. Over 40 different
letters were sent to local state legislators, the
Governor and other stakeholders of legislation that
would have impacted the Temecula Valley business
community.
Urged Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to support flexible
work week schedules during his budget negotiations with
both the Senate and Assembly leadership.
Reviewed and recommended positions on more than 20
statewide propositions on ballots of voters in
California.
Eliminated proposed laws that would have unreasonably
expanded employer’s costs and liabilities, mandated
government healthcare taxes and new shipping taxes
saving businesses throughout the region millions of
dollars in extra fees and taxes.
Continued our outreach efforts to local state
legislators and the Governor in times of economic and
financial crisis by continuing to lobby for an Economic
Stimulus Package for jobs and business stability.
Improved traffic on the SR-91 and I-15 to allow for
easier movement of goods by leading the charge on two
important transportation related projects that were
passed by the state legislature and signed into law by
the Governor.
Spearheaded a grassroots campaign that led to the appeal
of the California Coastal Commission’s objection to the
Transportation Corridor Agency’s 16-mile extension of
the 241 Toll Road.
Protected vital transportation, property tax and
redevelopment funds by submitting letters from our
membership on the type of impact it would have on local
business when the Governor and State Legislature
attempted to balance the state budget.
Joined forces with the California Chamber of Commerce in
Sacramento to help defeat a multi-billion dollar
job-killer mandate that would have expanded employer’s
costs and liability by mandating a specific paid sick
leave policy.
Supported federal legislation to relieve truck traffic
on roads and freeways throughout the region that would
also allow for a more efficient transportation system,
improved air quality, reduce dependence on oil and
increase opportunities for economic development.
Launched an improved advocacy web site allowing members
to easily find and keep informed on proposed legislation
impacting the bottom line of businesses in our area.
The Chambers were an early supporter of the Proposition
11 that now allows the creation of a 14-person citizen’s
commission that would redraw new boundary lines for the
State Senate and Assembly districts that eliminates the
conflict of interest when redrawing the district
boundaries.
Opposed a federal piece of legislation that aimed to
unreasonably expand the American with Disabilities Act
(ADA) with negative consequences for business. The
legislation would have greatly expanded ADA’s scope and
created unnecessary lawsuits.
October 16, 2008
Southwest
California Business Community Champions Legislative
Successes
Working together in 2008, the Temecula Valley, Murrieta
and Lake Elsinore Valley Chambers of Commerce helped
stop many proposed laws that would have unreasonably
expanded employer’s costs and liabilities, mandated
government healthcare taxes and new shipping taxes just
to name a few. The chambers were also successful in
seeing many supported positive legislative issues pass
and signed into law by the Governor.
“We fought hard all year long to make sure our
businesses were not taxed or placed in a uncompetitive
position in Temecula,” stated Greg Morrison, Chair of
the Southwest California Legislative Council.
“We want to make sure business growth and jobs remain
the top priorities of our business community. The
Chamber helped to champion that cause,” continued
Morrison.
An outline of some of the proposed laws the chambers
were successful in defeating:
AB 1 a Healthcare Reform:
The Governor’s healthcare reform plan aimed to create a
government-run healthcare system for employees who do
not receive healthcare from their employers. The
proposed law attempted to fix a broken healthcare system
almost exclusively by creating a vast and expensive new
healthcare program funded partially by a costly payroll
tax on California employers and increased tobacco taxes.
Adding to the confusion and government control, the
proposed new law would also require voters to go to the
polls this November to approve the funding portion of
the proposed healthcare plan.
AB 2716 Employment: Paid Sick Days:
The proposed sick leave law would have covered all
employees, so that part-time, seasonal and temporary
workers would earn paid sick days. The proposed law
mandated, without exception, that all employers provide
paid sick leave to an employee after seven days of work
in a calendar year to care for their own illness, or to
provide to a sick child, spouse, domestic partner or
other relative. California businesses continue to be
burden with costly mandates on employers. These mandates
can cumulatively result in lower wages, reducing
available health insurance, limiting training programs
and – in the worst case scenario – job loss or reduced
work hours.
SB 974 Ports: Congestion Relief: Air Pollution
Mitigation: Fee:
SB 974 would have imposed a $400,000,000 per year tax on
all containerized cargo moving in or out of the ports of
Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Oakland. A continued tax
on containerized cargo impacts businesses in the region,
much of whom already pay excessive costs to have goods
moved from the San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
The one-size-fits-all approach that is offered in SB 974
would not have helped our region and would have
restricted further goods movement to the ports in Long
Beach and Los Angeles.
An outline of some of the chambers supported legislation
that the Governor has now signed into law:
AB 1954 High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes and SB 1316
Transportation Facilities: Tolls: Orange and Riverside
Both new laws will help alleviate traffic congestion and
help with goods movement throughout the region. The
surrounding communities should be able to take notice
and the consumers of those goods should benefit as
well. The Riverside County Transportation Commission
(RCTC) will be charged with implementation of a
high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane on the Interstate 15 and
State Route 91 freeways. In order to accomplish this,
both bills were needed to be signed into law. Each bill
number addresses the respective corridors and will be
the beginning of what should come to this region as
there are hopes of extending more of the HOT lanes on
the I-15 freeway to San Diego.
AB 844 and SB 691 Junk Dealers and Recyclers: Nonferrous
Material
AB 844 and SB 691 help to prevent the theft of various
expensive metals that costs businesses thousands of
dollars to replace. Some examples are theft of copper
wiring from irrigation pumps that disrupts agricultural
operations, from utility lines disrupting service to
customers potentially costing businesses untold losses
and theft of materials from construction sites is
causing delays and pushing up costs of development.
Manhole covers have also been targeted by thieves,
costing cities to replace them at tax payer expense. AB
844 and SB 691 imposes strict requirements that make it
more difficult for thieves to sell to recyclers and
imposes even more strict penalties for being caught.
SB 1608 Disabled Persons: Equal Access Rights: Civil
Actions
SB 1608 was a bipartisan comprehensive reform measure
designed to address two important goals: 1) Promoting
and increasing compliance with state and federal civil
rights laws providing for equal access for individuals
with disabilities in public accommodations; and 2)
Reducing unwarranted, unnecessary litigation that does
not advance the goals of disability access.
SB 1608 was supported by many interests in the business
community, consumer attorneys, and the disability
community.
October 16, 2008
Southwest
California Business Community Champions Legislative
Successes
Working together in 2008, the Temecula Valley, Murrieta
and Lake Elsinore Valley Chambers of Commerce helped
stop many proposed laws that would have unreasonably
expanded employer’s costs and liabilities, mandated
government healthcare taxes and new shipping taxes just
to name a few. The chambers were also successful in
seeing many supported positive legislative issues pass
and signed into law by the Governor.
“We fought hard all year long to make sure our
businesses were not taxed or placed in a uncompetitive
position in Temecula,” stated Greg Morrison, Chair of
the Southwest California Legislative Council.
“We want to make sure business growth and jobs remain
the top priorities of our business community. The
Chamber helped to champion that cause,” continued
Morrison.
An outline of some of the proposed laws the chambers
were successful in defeating:
AB 1 a Healthcare Reform:
The Governor’s healthcare reform plan aimed to create a
government-run healthcare system for employees who do
not receive healthcare from their employers. The
proposed law attempted to fix a broken healthcare system
almost exclusively by creating a vast and expensive new
healthcare program funded partially by a costly payroll
tax on California employers and increased tobacco taxes.
Adding to the confusion and government control, the
proposed new law would also require voters to go to the
polls this November to approve the funding portion of
the proposed healthcare plan.
AB 2716 Employment: Paid Sick Days:
The proposed sick leave law would have covered all
employees, so that part-time, seasonal and temporary
workers would earn paid sick days. The proposed law
mandated, without exception, that all employers provide
paid sick leave to an employee after seven days of work
in a calendar year to care for their own illness, or to
provide to a sick child, spouse, domestic partner or
other relative. California businesses continue to be
burden with costly mandates on employers. These mandates
can cumulatively result in lower wages, reducing
available health insurance, limiting training programs
and – in the worst case scenario – job loss or reduced
work hours.
SB 974 Ports: Congestion Relief: Air Pollution
Mitigation: Fee:
SB 974 would have imposed a $400,000,000 per year tax on
all containerized cargo moving in or out of the ports of
Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Oakland. A continued tax
on containerized cargo impacts businesses in the region,
much of whom already pay excessive costs to have goods
moved from the San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
The one-size-fits-all approach that is offered in SB 974
would not have helped our region and would have
restricted further goods movement to the ports in Long
Beach and Los Angeles.
An outline of some of the chambers supported legislation
that the Governor has now signed into law:
AB 1954 High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes and SB 1316
Transportation Facilities: Tolls: Orange and Riverside
Both new laws will help alleviate traffic congestion and
help with goods movement throughout the region. The
surrounding communities should be able to take notice
and the consumers of those goods should benefit as
well. The Riverside County Transportation Commission
(RCTC) will be charged with implementation of a
high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane on the Interstate 15 and
State Route 91 freeways. In order to accomplish this,
both bills were needed to be signed into law. Each bill
number addresses the respective corridors and will be
the beginning of what should come to this region as
there are hopes of extending more of the HOT lanes on
the I-15 freeway to San Diego.
AB 844 and SB 691 Junk Dealers and Recyclers: Nonferrous
Material
AB 844 and SB 691 help to prevent the theft of various
expensive metals that costs businesses thousands of
dollars to replace. Some examples are theft of copper
wiring from irrigation pumps that disrupts agricultural
operations, from utility lines disrupting service to
customers potentially costing businesses untold losses
and theft of materials from construction sites is
causing delays and pushing up costs of development.
Manhole covers have also been targeted by thieves,
costing cities to replace them at tax payer expense. AB
844 and SB 691 imposes strict requirements that make it
more difficult for thieves to sell to recyclers and
imposes even more strict penalties for being caught.
SB 1608 Disabled Persons: Equal Access Rights: Civil
Actions
SB 1608 was a bipartisan comprehensive reform measure
designed to address two important goals: 1) Promoting
and increasing compliance with state and federal civil
rights laws providing for equal access for individuals
with disabilities in public accommodations; and 2)
Reducing unwarranted, unnecessary litigation that does
not advance the goals of disability access.
SB 1608 was supported by many interests in the business
community, consumer attorneys, and the disability
community.
