1) Pass something like the Governor's budget that balances this
year's budget without tax increases. You can never expect that
it will be exactly what the Governor has proposed but he has
laid out a blueprint that works. And by the way, pass that budget
on time.
2) Enact real worker's compensation reform and soon. This is
universally recognized as the single biggest impediment to job
and economic growth in California. If this doesn't happen, the
Governor and the people will just go around the legislature again
and get it done by initiative. And if the legislature can't do
this, the public should question if they can do anything positive.
3) Add tort reform, tax reform and energy reform as the next
steps after fixing worker's compensation. We've already had an
energy crisis and we will have another without some regulatory
change in this arena. Other forms of insurance are following
worker's comp in increases and availability because of ever increasing
abusive lawsuits. We can collect the same amount of tax in this
state with a lot less cost, administration and disincentives
to growth if we streamline the system.
4) Change the structure of government by eliminating many duplicative
and wasteful departments and agencies and enact a real cap on
state spending to force government to be efficient or watch its
functions dwindle.
5) Finally, repeal a bunch of the harm done in the last few
years. Much of the flurry of legislation passed in Davis' last
couple of years is just now starting to hurt people. Some candidates
for repeal are a bill which raised worker's comp costs for temporary
employment agencies (AB 2816), two bills which will create lots
of new junk lawsuits against businesses (SB 796 and AB 76), a
bill which mandates supervisors join unions and pay union dues
(AB 1141), and a bill requiring contracts to be printed in 5
languages (AB 309 ). But there are lots more.
6) Lose weight and exercise. (just kidding!!! All New Year's
resolutions contain this, don't they?) I know what you're thinking.
You are thinking that this all sounds good but is very unlikely.
You are thinking that I have spent too much time listening to
Howard Dean's jungle cry and it's affected my judgment. Well,
maybe. But the people want most of this to happen. A year ago,
did you think Arnold Schwarzenegger would be Governor now? California
is a place of constant change. And Californians want the legislature
to change now. Legislators would be wise to take heed.
New
Year's Resolutions
