JOBS AGENDA 2010:

I will work with others to develop and execute the following economic recovery and job creation policy plan for the district and the State of California. It's a rapid response agenda to help ensure that our community is the first, not the last, to create new jobs and emerge from the global economic downturn.

BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY ACTION COMMITTEE - Through the recession, our community has suffered a higher level of job loss than the statewide average. My legislative office will create a Business and Technology Action Committee (BTAC) in the district to unite efforts and martial resources to create and protect local jobs. The committee will help execute the following agenda items:

JOBS RETENTION TEAMS - Working with local chambers, Ventura County Economic Development Association, Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County, and local and federal public policy representatives, we will create small "Jobs Retention Teams" of leaders to engage our local job creating businesses on a routine basis, particularly those uniquely challenged by the economy. These teams will identify ways to encourage local businesses to keep jobs in the area and expand jobs here as well.

GREEN & CLEAN ENERGY COLLABORATIVE - My office's Business and Technology Action Committee will work to unite, under one single collaborative effort, the currently disjointed work by groups and individuals to attract and promote local green jobs and clean energy technologies. At the intersection of workforce development, economic development, and environmental sustainability, will be a focused effort on resource sharing, education and outreach in this growing area of the economy. Leadership will help make this region a future global hub of green and clean technology development and deployment.

ORGANIZE BRAC COUNCIL EARLY - Working with other local leaders and groups, we will begin the early effort to organize our community Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Council to promote the benefits of the local Navy bases upon the economy of Ventura County. Another round of BRAC closures is proposed for 2014, and we, as a community, need leadership to prepare to defend this region's largest economic driver - Navy Base Ventura County, combined Port Hueneme and Point Mugu Navy bases.

EXPAND LOCAL DEFENSE AND SPACE-BASED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES - With the announcement of the "green fleet" basing at Navy Base Ventura County and increasing contracting opportunities at Vandenberg Air Force Base, there are ample opportunities to turn our local community into an incubator for businesses that can provide the goods and services required to support these activities. My office's Local Business and Technology Action Committee will unite local efforts to better educate businesses about "how to do business with the government," and expeditiously identify, broadcast and help local businesses respond to expanding contracting opportunities with the Department of Defense and other government agencies.

SUPPORT LOCAL CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION - Promote and support local opportunities like Architecture Construction and Engineering (ACE) High School in Camarillo. ACE is a charter public school that, when completed, will allow students to graduate with A-G requirements for the University of California (UC system) while also empowering them with career technical education (CTE) skills that are in high demand in the economy. The school needs local and state support to open its doors. Support expansion of CTE curriculum in all CA public junior high and high schools. Educational opportunities, like those at ACE, will help prepare students for the growing number of career technical jobs in our economy.

BOOST LOCAL FILM AND TV PRODUCTION JOBS - With new film production tax credits passed by the legislature, our community has an opportunity to attract Hollywood jobs. We must unify the disjointed Ventura County Film Commission and bring together film and TV production executives with local business, economic development, county, and city leaders. Create local incentives and marketing plan to attract film and TV production to the region along with the high paying jobs associated with those projects.

LOWER TAXES AND SPUR INVESTMENT - Enact permanent tax rate reductions for the middle class, and lower capital gains tax. Expand Senate Bill 15 tax credits for hiring of new employees to companies with 100 or fewer employees, and raise the total funding source for that job creation incentive.

REPEAL AB 32 - Repeal Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, until state revenues again reach $120b projected per annum, or 2014, whichever occurs first. A comprehensive and accurate economic impact statement must be completed on AB 32 before implementation. Now is not the time for California to experiment with a plan to control greenhouse gas emissions while the other states, the nation, and other countries refuse to join us thereby placing California at a global disadvantage in economic growth and job creation.

REGULATORY RELIEF - Issue moratorium on new regulations on small businesses. Require agency assessment of economic impact of all new regulations imposed upon small business. Require state agencies to make additional findings and determinations regarding the impact current regulations may have on small businesses and to consult with small businesses during the regulatory process.

SUNSET CALIFORNIA-ONLY REGULATIONS - Level the playing field with our competitive neighboring states by requiring that all regulations that are indigenous to California (meaning found in no other of the Western States) must be compiled and reviewed; and, unless justified for continuation before a legislative panel every 4 years, these California-only regulations must removed from the rolls by a sunset clause.

PROMOTE WASTE CONVERSION - Encourage immediate new investment and job creation by allowing conversion of solid waste to energy at a bio-refinery to count toward meeting the state's new mandate that 33 percent of energy come from renewable sources by 2020.

PROMOTE NEW MANUFACTURING IN STATE - Attract new manufacturing jobs to the state by exempting the state portion of the sales and use tax for purchases of machinery and equipment used in manufacturing and research and development processes.

CLARIFY LAW TO AVOID LITIGATION - Reduce unnecessary liability and litigation costs for all employers by providing clarity and guidance for complying with and enforcing meal period laws so employees have the opportunity to take meal breaks, enter into on-duty meal period agreements in appropriate situations, and collectively bargain for meal periods.

PROMOTE AND RETAIN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN CA - Increase the California Research and Development Tax Credit from its present 15% to 20%. Phase the credit increase in over a four year period beginning in 2012.

HOUSING MARKET STABILITY - Ensure a smooth and seamless recovery of the residential housing market by offering automatic extensions on subdivision maps for a period of 5 years. Doing so would give builders an opportunity to buffer the economic downturn without losing hard-won entitlement progress on potential projects that will create jobs.

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