In this November’s election, common sense and fiscal conservatism in California government reached a new low. We must begin to restore the Pat Brown, Ronald Reagan, George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson luster to the Golden State when we had great roads, plenty of water, balanced schools and universities, sane government and a view of the world closer to reality, not global climate change led by California.
Such restoration is possible only if we recreate the paradigm for political action that made California great for generations:
- Prospering small, local, community, family-owned businesses and their employees including farms and ranches statewide
- Young people who believe in the Constitution and fundamental values who have joined key conservative college groups.
- Faith based organization leaders and members who want to retain religious freedom and traditional family values required to maintain a high level of quality of life in their communities.
- Retirees who want to remain in California and have the time, talent and commitment to do so
The traditional approach to change of this kind has been through the political processes of party organizations, central committees, elected officials and political volunteer organizations. We believe there is a better, shorter route to improving California: through the direct involvement and education of small business employers and their employees regarding California’s business climate future. No group has more riding on and invested in California’s business future than those whose jobs, earnings and continuity hang in the balance, lest those businesses and jobs flee California.
The National Tax Limitation Committee (incorporated in California more than 40 years ago by founder and president Lewis K. Uhler and operating nationwide since) is teaming up with a special project in California (Pro-Small Biz California – Jack Frost founder and president) to identify and train small business employees (and their owners) in improving the business climate of California to assure the survival and success of businesses across the Golden State. This means working with and honoring local Chambers of Commerce and other business advocates and associations and expanding their roles in guiding California government and its policies.
The demographics in California have dramatically shifted over the past decade to a point where small business owners from minority communities (Hispanic, Black, Asian and Indian) collectively represent nearly 50% of all the small businesses in California and these minority communities have traditionally been Democrats who are unaware of local, state and federal legislators who are not Pro-Biz advocates.
Concurrently, it is essential to properly “market” the Federal Tax Reform Act of 2017 which has had a dramatic impact on California’s and the nation’s economy but was not “sold” effectively nationwide – and in California – to overcome the Schumer-Pelosi misrepresentation that it only benefited corporations, the rich and Wall Street, leaving only “crumbs” for average workers and families (pre-election polls confirmed that tax reform remained the unsung hero of this mid-term election). We will be positioned to take advantage of tax reform’s vital benefits for California’s and America’s economic growth, jobs, wage and productivity increases over the next two years.
We should start this California restoration process with a clear understanding of the various problems that affect our state, the alternative solutions available to us and which one – or more – lend themselves to 2020 initiative(s) that can most clearly and forcefully frame the issue(s) we must address. Here are the issue areas we should consider:
- Tax Reform and Support for Tax Reform 2.0 – It is critical to the long-term health of our economy to make the individual tax rate provisions permanent. We should advocate this for the next two years while recognizing the Democrats will drag their feet.
- Taxes and our roads and highways – while the gasoline tax / car registration fee increase legislation was not reversed at the polls recently through proposition 6 on the November ballot, a properly “titled” initiative could win in 2020, while carrying with it an end to the “bullet train’s” misuse of road funds, dedicating highway taxes exclusively to roads, highways and bridge improvements.
- Dams and water delivery systems – build and improve reservoirs, dams and water delivery systems and use water for people, farms and businesses first.
- Healthcare – at all costs stop “single payer” (state run) healthcare as advocated by new Governor Newsom. Give businesses and their associations the authority to offer employer provided, low cost health care plans in conjunction with federal healthcare reforms.
- Fair independent contractor laws – in response to the California Supreme Court case of Dynamex Operations West Inc. v. Superior Court, restore the role and assure the relationship of “independent contractors” as distinguished from employees.
- California public employee pension reform – the rising unfunded pension liability is not sustainable
- Eliminate unwarented ADA lawsuits
- Advocate for the “partial privatization” of Social Security – Millennials are aware social security will be broke by 2034. They should be eager to support the partial privatization of social security which, like Chilean pension reform, will also create a boom to the economy.
