Here is an update on some other legislation we have taken positions on.
LEGISLATION
Log Cabin took the following positions of SUPPORT on this legislation this week: To look up details on any of these bills visit the Official California Legislative Information site
AB 2127 Flexible Work Week: This bill owuld allow smallbusinesses of less than 25 employees to have an employee opt for a flexible schedule, such as working 10 hours a day for four days without incurring overtime costs. This would allow employees to work more flexible schedules to give them time off with their family or to pursue other interests as well as provide flexibility to small businesses to keep their stores open longer hours without incurring the heavy salary costs. SUPPORT
AB 2746 Private postsecondary education: California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2008:
Sponsored by the Schwarzenegger Administration (State and Consumer Service Agency), this act will provide a new regulatory framework for the oversight of Private Postsecondary education in California . In the best interest of the students, this legislation will replace expired statutes by creating a new clear and effective regulatory system for postsecondary education. SUPPORT
AB 1877 Child Custody Evaluations:
This bill shall require the adoption of a form to be served with every child custody evaluation report that informs the recipients of the evaluation of the confidentiality of the report. Unwarranted disclosure of the report may be subject to possible fees. SUPPORT
AB 2601 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SANCTUARY CITIES BAN :
Withholds state money from “sanctuary cities” and diverts the money to grants for local police training on immigration enforcement. SUPPORT
ACA 7 The Budget and Legislative Responsibility Act:
ACA 7 will stabilize the state’s budget, preventing the need for taxes increases and greatly reducing the need for in-year budget cuts. This measure would require the Legislature sessions held in odd-numbered years to be known as “budget sessions,” and sessions held in even-numbered years be known as “general sessions.” ACA 7 also imposes a limit on the number of bills that may be introduced at 25 for Senators and 20 for Members of the Assembly. SUPPORT
AB 2606 Bad Check Diversion Program:
This program was enacted in 1985, which enables prosecutors to offer diversion, rather than prosecution, to eligible bad check writers. Recently, this program has been challenged because of the vagueness of current law, therefore, this bill seeks to clarify the existing statute by expressly stating that the bad check diversion program is totally self-funding, restitution is required to hold offenders accountable for victims’ losses and to update diversion fees. SUPPORT
AB 2330 Eliminating Red Tape in Hunting Licenses:
Will make junior hunting license eligibility requirements more equitable with those for adult hunting licenses. The measure will also allow hunters who purchase a license or permit through the Internet to print a temporary document valid for 30 days, so they can enjoy hunting their privileges until they receive their annual license or permit. SUPPORT
AB 278 False Compartments:
This bill would make it a misdemeanor to build or use a false compartment in a vehicle with the intent to store unlawfully possessed firearms or at least $5,000 in currency intended to be used in the purchase or exchange of a controlled substance. SUPPORT
For philosophical purity sake some of these bills were not that popular with some of our active members. They are a bit too nanny government in some cases. But the goal here is to build up a better relationship with the Republican Pary and the Republican Assembly Caucus by supporting their priorities and showing that Log Cabin members care about more than just gay and lesbian issues. These bills are all listed by the Republican Assembly Caucus as their legislative priorities this year. I sent official support letters to the bills authors and the GOP Assembly Caucus.
Log Cabin Republicans took positions in OPPOSITION to these bills this week:
AB 1956 The iTunes Tax:
Assembly Bill 1956 (Calderon) would require state tax officials to begin imposing sales taxes on music, movies and software purchases made online, such as on iTunes. Democrats have also talked about taxing all items purchased on the Internet ($500 million tax increase). Log Cabin noted that gays and lesbians are disproportinately employed in the entertainment industry and their jobs will be impacted by higher taxes. LGBT artists of all types are looking to the Internet as a means of bypassing the large corporations that maynot embrace thsoe artists and those artists may not have the technology or expertise to collect taxes. We view this bill as anti-free market and anti-LGBT and will hold Democrats accountable for efforts like this that harm our community. OPPOSE
AB 2829 The Plastic Bag Tax:
Assembly Bill 2829 (Davis) would impose a new plastic bag tax, at a still-unspecified level, on the plastic bags used by grocery stores and other retailers to package purchases. Lower income and struggling families, like those with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers are facing tough enough economic conditions without imposing higher taxes at the grocery store. OPPOSE
SCA 18 Making It Easier for Politicians to Raise Taxes:
Senate Constitutional Amendment 18 (Torlakson) would make it easier for local politicians to raise taxes, by allowing educational finance districts to impose special taxes by a majority vote. OPPOSE
AB 2372 and AB2897 Raising Income Taxes:
Assembly Bill 2372 (Coto) would impose a new 1 percent tax on Californians earning more than $1 million per year, raising the state’s highest income tax rate to 11.3 percent. Taking money from one group with higher disposable income to fund one cause will dry up funding for non-profit groups who depend on donations. This will impact LGBT rights groups, HIV/AIDS groups, women’s health groups and others who depend on higher income taxpayers who support them. OPPOSE
Assembly Bill 2897 (Hancock) would impose a new 10 percent tax rate for individuals earning more than $136,115 per year ($272,230 for joint filers) and a new 11 percent tax rate for individuals earning more than $272,230 per year ($544,460 for joint filers). Higher taxes usually means lower tax revenue as these taxpayers leave the state. New technologies allow people to live elsewhere and still run their businesses. And again, taking money for general services like bureaucrfacy limits the funds available to non-profits that provide the safety net for many in a time where budget cuts are reducing services. The HIV/AIDS community is a great example of how private sector nonprofits are more effective than the government in providing services and assistance. They depend on the generous contributions of taxpayers with higher levels of disposable income. Income going to taxes for bureaucracy means less money available for supporting non-profit organizations. OPPOSE
(Tip of the Log Cabin stovepipe hat to Sen. Harman’s office for sending out this list of tax increase bills making our work easier to identify them to oppose them.)
I sent letters of opposition to the authors as well as both the GOP Assembly and Senate caucuses. There are many more tax increase bills related to the car tax and gas taxes that I will analyze next week.
If there is a bill you think Log Cabin should take a position on, please let me know.
(Don Norte, Maria Shriver, Kevin Norte, and Govnernor Arnold Schwarzenegger)