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Keeping California’s Economy Growing Strong
The Republican Party of Orange County regularly solicits the views and news of the state and federal delegation. Please read this week's Op-Ed by California State Assemblyman Jim Silva
Recently, I had the opportunity to tour some of Silicon Valley’s largest high tech firms, companies like eBay, Cisco Systems and Hewlett-Packard. I saw firsthand the many new innovations their hard-working and talented employees were researching and developing. This is further evidence that California is the capitol of the world’s high tech economy.
While talking with their executives and managers about the many challenges they faced in trying to expand in the state, it became very clear that businesses may not stay in California unless lawmakers continue to prioritize pro-jobs policies that strengthen our economy.
California’s economy is booming today because Assembly Republicans led the fight for pro-growth economic policies that have enabled industries of the future to prosper in our state. Republicans have strongly resisted new tax increase proposals pushed by Democrats in the Legislature and have stopped new job killer laws from taking effect.
We must continue to create more opportunities for hard-working Californians to open their own businesses and prosper beyond their dreams. This includes the acquisition of career-technical skills and the empowerment of an advanced education.
Since the end of 2003, more than 699,000 new jobs have been created, our unemployment rate has dropped by 2 percent and workers compensation premiums have been cut by nearly 50 percent – with more relief on the way for California’s small businesses.
But despite our progress, businesses continue to face many hurdles just to keep their doors open in our state. Every day, California’s job creators, especially small businesses, are struggling to stay in business under the weight of high tax rates, burdensome regulations and the constant threat of junk lawsuits.
Now, some want to turn back the clock by restoring the costly policies and job killer regulations that drove employers, jobs, and tax revenue away from our state in the first place. Our state’s economy simply cannot continue to grow if we return to these irresponsible policies of the past.
This year, Democrats have already proposed several misguided changes that would undermine our historic workers’ compensation reforms and make it more expensive to do business in California. But nothing could threaten businesses in California more than how lawmakers shape California’s health care future this year.
Some in Sacramento have proposed a new jobs tax on small businesses as their solution for our health care woes. California is already the second-worst state in the nation for small businesses. Imposing a costly jobs tax could be the final nail in the coffin for a large number of small businesses in California, causing thousands to lose their jobs as companies consider layoffs, moving out of state or shutting down entirely. Instead of punishing businesses for not being able to afford health care for their workers, we should work to make health care more affordable for businesses and provide them with more choices.
To keep our state’s economic engine roaring strong, we must continue to foster the pro-growth economic policies that have fueled California’s comeback. As a member of the state Assembly and vice chairman of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, the Economy, and Economic Development, I will always fight hard to keep our job-friendly policies in place, protect our successful workers’ compensation reforms, and stop any new tax increases dead in their tracks.
Assemblyman Jim Silva, R-Huntington Beach, represents the 67th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the communities of Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Cypress, Westminster, Seal Beach, Garden Grove, La Palma, Los Alamitos and Stanton. Any essays, opinion-editorials, press-releases or news item contained herein is the expressed view of the author and not necessarily of The Republican Party of Orange County (also known as OCGOP.org). OCGOP.org should not be held accountable or responsible for the content associated with these writings. The literature that is provided to you, the user, is for your convenience, entertainment and education and are not to be seen as endorsed by OCGOP.org for any products, services or views promoted by said author.
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