The Legislative and Government Affairs Committee examines proposed laws, regulations, rules and procedures that could affect the business community of greater Pasadena and advises on regulatory and legislative matters.
The Legislative an Government Affairs Committee meets the third Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. Any Chamber member is welcome to attend, take part and join the committee. For specific information, please call the Chamber office.
2 responses so far ↓
pasadenachamberofcommerce // May 1, 2009 at 1:04 pm |
At its most recent meeting, the Leg. Committee voted to endorse passage of Propositions 1A to 1F. At it’s meeting last week, the Board of the Chamber also supported passage of the propositions, though serious concern was expressed that there are no other options available to balance California’s budget.
Prop. 1A changes the budget process, increases the “rainy day” fund and places limits on state spending. Prop. 1B requires supplemental payments to school districts and community colleges to offset recent budget cuts. Both 1A and 1B must pass for either to take effect. Prop. 1C modernizes the state lottery and generates up to $5 billion in revenue. Prop. 1D temporarily protects funding for children’s services. Prop. 1E uses funds designated for mental health programs to help balance the state budget. Prop. 1F freezes state elected officials’ salaries if the state general fund ends a year with a deficit.
Though supportive of the propositions, the Board recognized that the state budget process is currently unworkable and the legislature is incapable of passing a balanced budget.
pasadenachamberofcommerce // May 19, 2009 at 4:40 pm |
The Legislative Committee will recommend to the Board of Directors that the Chamber should seek an active role in organizing information gathering meetings with City staff, consultants, political leaders and decision-makers over the course of the General Plan revision process. The committee anticipates the Chamber playing an important role in ensuring the concerns, opinions, questions and interests of Pasadena’s varied business community are heard, considered and incorporated into the updated land use and mobility elements of the General Plan.
The Committee will also recommend that the Chamber express significant concerns about Pasadena’s proposed water rate increases. Concerns articulated center around this being a very poor economy in which to be significantly raising the cost to do business. Questions about the department’s efficiency efforts and whether cost savings have been considered that could lower the rate of the proposed increase and whether the increase is being appropriately apportioned between commercial and residential customers.
The Committee recommends the Board ask for a phased in approach that allows for significant efforts to reduce departmental costs and alleviate the initial impact of the increase. Further, it is recommended that the rate increases intended to bolster the department’s finances coincide with other rate adjustments intended to facilitate water conservation.