California bill puts business on ‘kill list’

To Grace Geday | CalMatters

California’s Democratic-majority legislature, known for passing the nation’s first laws to strengthen worker and consumer protections, often faces fierce opposition from business groups. I’m here.

At the same time, a powerful business lobbying group, the California Chamber of Commerce, developed a specific strategy with a high success rate.job killer” and track them in the annual list.

This week, the Chamber of Commerce announced: First list for 2023Among the bills are:

New tax on gross wealth for Individuals with a net worth of $50 million or morewas introduced by a member of parliament Alex Lee, Milpitas Democratic Party.Unlike income tax, a tax on whole wealth is unprecedented in the US

$25 minimum wage For workers in healthcare facilitiesintroduced by Sen. Maria Elena DurasoLos Angeles Democrat.

• Durazo the woman says Workers of color are the “backbone” of our health care system, “working multiple shifts in understaffed facilities just to bring poverty wages home.”
• Chamber advocate this measure It raises the cost of health care facilities, “putting Californians’ access to affordable health care at risk and threatening jobs.”

Proposal to increase paid sick leave Employer must provide from three to seven was introduced by Sen. Lena Gonzaleza Long Beach Democrat and endorsed by the California Federation of Labor.

The Chamber of Commerce has now tagged 13 bills as “job killers” say i hope That number will increase in the coming weeks.

By the business group’s own account, the list is a highly successful lobbying tool.dubbed last year 19 Bills ‘Job Killers’ and 2 Laws EnactedIn 2021, we have labeled 25 bills and signed one into law. But not all “job killers”, in the words of this group, are truly killed. The Chamber also delists bills that have been amended in ways that the group endorses.

Of the 824 bills the group has labeled “job killers” 1997 and 2022, only 58 were signed into law. Translation: Only about 7% of bills listed by the Chamber of Commerce cross the finish line without the drastic amendments favored by the business community.

Lobbying against legislation is not the only way business groups are trying to influence policy. There is also a campaign donation. According to the secretary of state’s data analyzed by CalMatters data journalists, eight of his 11 lawmakers behind the bills already on this year’s list have received no money from Congress while in office. not. Jeremiah Kimmelman.

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1 NEWSOM’S CROSS-COUNTRY CAMPAIGN

with the motion i am not running for president, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the cross-country tour will begin Thursday. It kicks off this weekend, with him visiting several states to promote… democracy, not his own. Or rather, the Democrats’ view of democracy.

called democracy campaign, Newsom cited recent actions such as book bans, passing laws targeting transgender youth, and repealing laws targeting transgender youth, citing the country as a “radical Republican.” and experiencing an “existential struggle” for democracy from “authoritarian threats.” abortion access.

on the campaign siteNewsom especially calls his conservative foilFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis, and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Bakersfield and Texas Governor Greg Abbott as “threats.”

• Newsom, in promotional video: “What’s going on in the red states, it’s not us. It’s un-American, it’s undemocratic. All it takes to fight back is the will to stand up and say, ‘I’ve had enough.’ ”

To oppose the Republican agenda, governors visit like-minded officials and organizations in conservative states to rally support for policies and Democratic leaders. Newsom says he will be out of the state for nearly two weeks. He travels in today to attend a Democratic Governors Association event in Florida on Saturday. Then, from Sunday through Tuesday, his campaign for democracy tour will begin in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama. After that, he will be on vacation with his family from April 6th to 12th.

Predictably, California Republicans are questioning Newsom’s priorities.

• congressional republican leader James Gallagher A statement from Chico to CalMatters said: California has the highest homeless rate, highest gas prices, collapsing roads, bankrupt schools, soaring housing prices, and a $22 billion budget deficit. The only thing he’s qualified to teach the rest of America is how to drive a state into the ground. ”

The announcement comes less than two weeks after the governor completes another road trip. state event statusinstead of giving a traditional speech in parliament, he expressed his support for the second term agenda.

Newsom argues that the campaign should not be perceived as “a starting point for future White House executions.” Washington PostIt was the first media organization to report the news and is the latest example of a governor fostering national coverage. But the tour will undoubtedly increase his national profile and give him the opportunity to celebrate California and its leadership as a model for the nation.

The Post said the tour’s first $10 million Remaining money for 2022 re-election campaignFunding will also come from the newly formed Campaign for Democracy Political Action Committee.

2 Reparations Meeting Gets Emotional

from Wendy Fry of CalMatters California Divide team:

After Thursday’s emotional public comment, the California reparations task force asked the Justice Department to use the term “African American” in a final document due to be submitted to the state legislature on June 30. instructed.

In 2020, the state government will Compensation should be paid to residents who are descendants of slaves.Part of the meeting time was devoted to language issues.

“All languages ​​must be African American,” said task force chairman Camilla Moore adamantly. According to task force members and community members, the term is important because it more clearly defines the compensatory group as “descendants of people enslaved in the United States.”

The nine-member agency also directed DOJ staff to clarify draft chapters that verify: Other Restitution Attempts Just that—try.

California task force poised to become first government agency in US reparations framework It complies with United Nations international standards. This includes restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and a promise not to repeat the past. California’s framework could form the basis for federal reparations efforts.

on wednesday, Task force members decided They never give exact figures for compensation for decades of housing discrimination, over-policing and disproportionate mass incarceration. We forecast over $800 billion, but that number doesn’t necessarily reflect what we think will be paid or owed.

“The task force should be free to go beyond loss estimates to determine an appropriate amount,” said Thomas Cramer, a professor of public policy at the University of Connecticut who is in talks with the Justice Department.

member of parliament Reggie Jones-Sawyera Democrat in Los Angeles, said he and the Senator. Stephen BradfordInglewood Democrats should consult with other legislators, the governor’s office, and budget analysts to ascertain how much support they will receive from Congress.

Public comments on Thursday turned emotional, with some commenters playing music and some taking young children to highlight “what’s at stake.” The 7th grader tearfully testifies to being bullied at school because of her skin color and decides to homeschool.

Some public commenters expressed their dismay and anger at one of the task force members, the Reverend Amos Brown. Pastor Amos Brown traveled to Ghana this week with Vice President Kamala Harris instead of attending a conference.

3 California Schools Engage in Ethnic Studies

In 2021, the governor signed new graduation requirements into law. Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, high schools will be required to offer ethnology courses, and the 2030 class will be the first students to meet that requirement and graduate.

Leaving aside the controversy over whether this is necessary learning for high school students, Schools across California still have a dilemma in their hands, report Megan Tagami of CalMatters University Journalism Network: How should educators be prepared to teach this sensitive and often politically contested curriculum?

If a school requires special qualifications, finding a qualified teacher for that subject can be even more difficult. There is a possibility to

Currently, the state allows teachers with social science qualifications to teach ethnology. Teachers of other subjects are also eligible if ethnology studies is combined with other subjects, such as reading or the arts. Some say this approach makes it easier to recruit educators who are passionate about teaching the subject.

• Tim ZarnardExecutive Director of Educational Services for Santa Rosa City Schools: “It provides flexibility for both students and the school’s course offerings.”

But lawmakers and other educators argue that even if teachers have their minds in the right places, it’s still not enough to give students the knowledge they need. Megan Report.

That’s why in February he became a member of the House of Representatives. Wendy CarrilloDemocrats in Los Angeles introduced a bill requiring the state’s Board of Teacher Qualifications to offer qualifications in certain ethnic studies by 2025.

• Carrillo: “Social sciences credential programs do not adequately cover ethnic studies. We argue that at this time, no existing credential adequately covers the depth and breadth of the interdisciplinary nature of ethnic studies.” .”

Meanwhile, California colleges have developed various programs to train future teachers. Some place students in ethnology classrooms for first-hand experience, while others offer classes on ethnology teaching methods and curriculum.