The plan to raise a 7.5% tax on employers, either into a direct health care plan or paid into a state fund, known as AB 8 was the topic at a press conference at the main Capitol Press Room, #1190 this morning. Assembly Republican LeaderMike Villines andSenate RepublicanLeader Dick Ackerman led the conference in exposing the perils for the business and job climate for our state should AB 8 become law.

Several speakers advocating for small businesses spoke as well, including John Kabateck of NFIB, featured in today’s FR, who highlighted the critical role thatsmall businesses play in California’s economy and job market, includingthat AB 8 would likely cause the loss of 249,000 jobs, mostly entry level, service and construction that new employeess need to enter the work place. This could mean 1/3 of all new jobs over the next 5 years.

Other speakers spoke of how it affects their own small business and that it’s a disincentive to even hire employees to begin with, including James Duran of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with comments on how ithurts his members.

The fact that this is being pushed on a simple… Read More

Finally recognizing which way the wind is blowing, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine agreed to make his mandatory spay and neuter bill (AB 1634) a two-year bill (which in layman’s terms means, the bill is dead) after it appeared obvious that Mr. Levine would not get the necessary support the bill needed in the Senate Local Government committee minutes ago.

This is great news for those who viewed the bill as another in the long list of unnecessary nanny-state pieces of legislation. This is not to say that pet overpopulation is not a real problem in California; reasonable people all agree on this point. The problem was with the proposed solution.

Rather that actively working to enforce the laws already on the books and working with local breeders and canine activists to tackle the problem, the heavy-handed big government approach was once again employed.The approach Mr. Levine soughtpunishedlaw abiding citizens by forcing them through bureaucratic hoops while neglectingto bolster the resources necessary to arm local authorities with the tools to implement a new law.

A better approach would be to encourage local governments to work with rescues,… Read More

AB 1634, receiving litttle support in the SenateLocal GovernmentCommittee, was put over as a"2 year bill". It was Bob Barker vs. Lassie in the halls of the Capitol this week. [got to meet Lassie, pretty cool] Forcing dog and cat owners to spay or neuter their animal or go though many hoops in order not to, is an issue that will be set aside until next year, with the Senate committee resisting support for AB 1634 today, even with proposed amendments. We’ve received more communications from concerned constituents than perhaps any other issue since I’ve been here, maybe our fax machines now will get to cool off for awhile on this matter.… Read More

Earmarks:One of the frays that I have entered in Congress this year is the fight against inappropriate or abusive earmarks. Most of the Members of Congress that are in jail or are under investigation have that status in whole or in part because ofallegedly accepting bribes or some other personal benefit from directing large amounts of taxpayer’s money to someone specific. Now, I am not opposed to all earmarks. I have submitted two such requests for appropriation myself, both of which are publicly disclosed on my government website at www.house.gov/campbell . But there are certain standards earmarks should meet, including full disclosure, to be considered legitimate. That being said, I would prefer to eliminate them all over the current system which is ripe with conflict, secrecy and abuse.

In my investigations in this area, I uncovered one earmark that I think is emblematic of the problem here and that is wholly inappropriate. This is $231,000 requested by Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Illinois) for an organization called The Abraham Lincoln National Airport Commission. That may not sound so bad on the… Read More

State Assembly candidate Jack Sieglock, a former San Joaquin County Supervisor has dropped 100K into his account according to Secretary of State filings. It will be interesting to see how much money Sieglock will show in what promises to be an expensive battle in the 10th Assembly district.… Read More

Today I am pleased to feature in this space an introduction to the new Assembly Republican Caucus website on healthcare. Actually, rather than me telling you all about it, we have a short column from Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, inviting you to check it out (there is a great new video up on it)… I will say that it is a worthwhile site to check out because on it, Republicans outline over a dozen common-sense proposals to help increase access to and the affordability of healthcare in California…

Republican Health Care Website Shows Real Impact on Taxpayers and Economy

By Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines

As we debate significant changes to California’s health care system, most people have no idea what we are talking about when we discuss terms like “ERISA,” “high… Read More

Today I am pleased to feature in this space an introduction to the new Assembly Republican Caucus website on healthcare. Actually, rather than me telling you all about it, we have a short column from Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, inviting you to check it out (there is a great new video up on it)… I will say that it is a worthwhile site to check out because on it, Republicans outline over a dozen common-sense proposals to help increase access to and the affordability of healthcare in California…

[Don’t miss the video below…] Republican Health Care Website Shows Real Impact on Taxpayers and Economy

By Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines… Read More

The Wal-Mart ban fails…see my prior post below:

Frye shifts vote, backs Walmart Supercenter by Matthew T. Hall UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER 3:14 p.m. July 10, 2007

Wal-Mart Supercenters may be in store for San Diego, after all.

The San Diego City Council essentially balked at its own ban of large retail developments with full-service groceries Tuesday afternoon after Councilwoman Donna Frye surprisingly announced she would switch her vote.

Link to the entire UT Story.… Read More