Ways Governor, Legislature Could Address Gas and Business Costs

March 10, 2022

Ways Governor, Legislature Could Address Gas and Business Costs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: John Kabateck, California State Director, John.Kabateck@nfib.org or Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, Anthony.Malandra@nfib.org SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 10, 2022—Now that Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders have nixed the idea of a temporary halt of the California fuel tax, which would have had an immediate impact on prices, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) today welcomed their commitment to use General Fund money to lessen the economic blow of inflation-blown gasoline prices. “We are pleased the governor and legislative leaders have acknowledged the financial hardship people are feeling at the pump,” said John Kabateck, California state director for NFIB. “These are perilous times for small businesses, many of which are still rebuilding after two years of COVID-instilled slowdowns. We take our leaders at their word that they will act without haste to bring some relief to the hardworking small-business owners and their many employees.” In addition to the General Fund assistance, three other suggestions offered by NFIB were:

Waiving overtime requirements to allow four, 10-hour days so employees would need to commute less. This would provide for one less trip to the workplace while at the same time saving fuel and reducing pollution.
Reimbursing employers for the cost of providing COVID leave. With federal tax credits no longer available, struggling businesses need assistance complying with another state mandated leave program.
Full reduction of the state’s outstanding unemployment insurance loan debt with the federal government, or at least more than the $1 billion proposed in the governor’s budget so employers avoid increased UI taxes in 2023.

“We were glad to see Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate President Toni Atkins issue a joint statement calling for tax relief from the state’s General Fund and stand ready to assist anyway with our small-business membership,” said Kabateck. Keep up with the latest on California small-business news at www.nfib.com/california, where this release can also be read, or by following NFIB on Twitter @NFIB_CA or on Facebook @NFIB.CA. ### For 78 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since its founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com. NFIB California 915 L. Street, Suite C-411 Sacramento, CA 95814 916-448-9904 www.nfib.com/CA Twitter: @NFIB_CA Facebook: @NFIB.CA