Prop. 36 endorsed, upcoming webinar on PAGA changes, NFIB making news
Welcome to the July 15-19 edition of the Main Street Minute from your small-business-advocacy team in Sacramento
NFIB Editorial Published Far and Wide
- Yesterday’s (July 14) guest editorial by NFIB California State Director John Kabateck, Memo to Newsom: Democracy should be practiced, not prohibited, ran in the online news sites of the 11 daily publications of the Southern California News Group (L.A. Daily News, Long Beach Press Telegram, Riverside Press-Enterprise, etc.).
- In it, Kabateck criticizes not only the governor but also the Legislature and State Supreme Court for not practicing what they preach. “The court’s June 20 decision on Legislature of the State of California v. Weber completed a rare trifecta of having all three branches of state government allied against the will of the people as expressed through their very democratic actions.”
NFIB Opposes Minimum Wage Initiative
- This morning (July 15), NFIB will send this news release announcing our opposition to Proposition 32, the ballot initiative seeking to boost the state’s minimum wage rate to $18 an hour.
- NFIB has already answered some media questions about the measure. The Los Angeles Daily News has written about NFIB’s opposition to Prop. 32 in an article that ran in all 11 daily newspapers under the Southern California Newspaper Group umbrella. KRCR-TV (ABC) in Chico also asked Kabateck for his thoughts.
NFIB California Endorses Proposition 36
- In a news release issued last Wednesday (July 10), NFIB California made its support of Proposition 36 on the November 5 General Election Ballot official.
- “Small businesses are the most common and vulnerable victims of retail theft crimes and are the least able to defend themselves,” said State Director John Kabateck in a news release announcing NFIB’s endorsement of Proposition 36, The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act.
- “Proposition 36 addresses retail theft head-on by providing a way for law enforcement to go after criminals who are using the current law as a loophole to repeatedly commit smaller crimes that add up to devastating costs for small businesses and by protecting owners from criminals who are severely vandalizing mom-and-pop shops. Prop 36’s holistic approach to combat theft, along with its other provisions to address the deteriorating quality of life across California, will greatly improve the safety of our communities.”
- Gov. Gavin Newsom disagrees. On the same day NFIB announced its support for Prop. 36, the state’s chief executive made it a point to emphatically express his opposition.
- “After abandoning plans to place a competing measure on the November ballot, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that he would campaign against an initiative to increase penalties for some drug and theft crimes in California,” reported CalMatters.
- So, where does that leave the Legislature? It has a package of retail theft bills still to be decided, and when it returns from summer recess on August 5, it will have only a month left before the end of its 2023-2024 session. Lawmakers’ work on these bills is part of a bigger strategic consideration, reports The Sacramento Bee.
- “Legislative leaders and the governor are now banking on an embattled package of retail theft bills they’ve been pushing as an alternative to the California District Attorneys Association’s more punitive ballot measure.
- “If the lawmakers can quickly push their bills through in August, after a month-long recess, it may convince some retailers to back away from financially supporting the district attorneys’ initiative.”
Speaking of NFIB in the News
- Stop blaming small business owners and start punishing the criminals, State Director John Kabateck tells The Center Square for a story about San Francisco’s curfew on businesses in the city’s Tenderloin neighborhood.
On Other Legislative Issues
- Among the 11 bills NFIB will fighting for and 26 against in the final month of the legislative session are ones expanding family leave, prohibiting employers from requiring employees to meet, redefining who a contractor is, just to name a few. Please keep an eye on your inbox during this time for Action Alerts NFIB will be sending.
Save the Date, August 8
- NFIB State Director John Kabateck and Beth Milito, executive director of NFIB’s Small Business Legal Center, will discuss how important changes to the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) will impact – and benefit – you and other small business owners. Thursday, August 8, 11 a.m. An invitation will be coming to you shortly. Email Grassroots Manager Taylor Criddle, [email protected] with any questions you may have.
More Rainy Days Ahead
- “The governor’s May budget plan proposes withdrawing only $3.3 billion from the state’s primary rainy day fund for fiscal 2025, reserving the bulk of money in the fund for fiscal 2026—the plan anticipates an $8.9 billion withdrawal for fiscal 2026—or subsequent years. By retaining substantial reserve balances, the plan acknowledges that relying too heavily on reserves this year could make future budget years more difficult.” Pew Research
Calendar
- August 5, Legislature returns from summer recess
- 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 July 9, the NFIB Research Center released the June SBET survey, which showed that inflation is still the top small business issue, with 21% of owners reporting it as their single most important problem in operating their business, down one point from May.
- On July 10, NFIB-WV member and small business owner Michael Ervin of Coal River Coffee joined the VoiceAmerica Business Buzz podcast to discuss how he uses the Small Business Deduction.
- On July 11, NFIB released Episode 39 of the “Small Business Rundown” podcast, featuring Small Business Legal Center Executive Director Beth Milito and Senior Attorney Rob Smith discussing the details of the new U.S. Department of Labor overtime rule that took effect July 1 and what it means for small businesses.
Next Main Street Minute, July 22.
