From your small business advocacy team in Sacramento
Welcome to the January 29-February 2 edition of the NFIB California Main Street Minute from your small-business-advocacy team in Sacramento.
NFIB State Ballot Results
- NFIB thanks its members who took the time to vote their 2024 State Ballot, the results from which help center NFIB’s lobbying positions in Sacramento. This year’s ballot asked four questions:
— Should California abolish private insurance plans and replace them with a government-run “single payer” healthcare system?
Yes 5%
No 89%
Und. 6%
— Should California reduce full-time work hours from 40 to 32 hours per week?
Yes 2%
No 95%
Und. 3%
— Should all California businesses be required to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and those of any entity with whom they do business?
Yes 2%
No 94%
Und. 4%
— Should California amend its constitution to require voter approval for all new state taxes and tax increases passed by the legislature?
Yes 87%
No 8%
Und. 5%
State Budget
- Another quiet week in the Legislature on the state budget and little talk of anything that might cost so much as a buffalo nickel more in new state spending.
- On his Kabatext blog, NFIB California State Director John Kabateck comments on remarks made by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas that solutions to the budget deficit will be caucus-driven.
- “This is not just any caucus that will put its imprint on a final state budget, but one with a Falstaffian appetite for greater government in every realm of a Californian’s life (health, education, environment, salary, workplace conditions). Seeing, then, how the caucus gets its hands around the reality of a state budget deficit of between $38 billion to $58 billion (depending on whether you believe the governor or legislative analyst) will be like watching how a blind date between one of Shakespeare’s most enduring characters and Jenny Craig turns out.”
Calendar
- February 5, counties begin mailing ballots to voters.
- February 16, deadline to introduce bills in the Legislature
- February 20, last day to register for the March Primary Election
- March 5, Primary Election Day
- May 24 deadline for bills to pass their house of origin (Assembly, Senate)
- June 27 deadline for ballot measure to qualify for November
- August 31 deadline for bills to have passed Legislature and sent to governor
- September 30 deadline for governor to sign bills into law
- November 5, General Election Day
National
Highlights from NFIB Legislative Program Manager Caitlin Lanzara’s weekly report
- On January 24, NFIB sent a letter in support of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. This bipartisan legislation would increase the milk options for schoolchildren in the National School Lunch Program.
- On January 25, the latest “Small Business Rundown” podcast was released. The episode features NFIB Vice President of State Government Relations Tim Goodrich, Senior Region Grassroots Director Elizabeth Parks, and NFIB Region Director Barbara Quandt. Our guests discussed NFIB Small Business Days, the importance of attending, and what members can expect if they plan to attend. Listen here!
- On January 26, NFIB Small Business Legal Center sent the following weekly update:
— Legal Center Files Brief in Support of NFIB Member Robert Mayfield of Texas – NFIB’s Rob Smith wrote and filed a brief this week in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in a case challenging DOL’s authority to use a minimum salary level (currently $35,568) to determine which employees get overtime pay. Mayfield’s lawsuit argues that employees performing executive, administrative, or professional duties should be exempt regardless of salary level. You can read NFIB’s statement and find our brief here.
— Legal Center Files Brief Challenging DOL ESG Rule – The case Utah v. Su, also in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, involves a challenge to DOL’s retirement rule that would negatively affect the retirement accounts of millions of Americans. The rule permits 401(k) managers to consider climate change and other ESG (environmental, social, governance) factors when selecting investments, contrary to the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). You can read our brief here.
This Main Street Minute can also be read on the NFIB California webpage here. Next Main Street Minute February 5.
