Attacked for Telling the Truth About DeSaulnier’s Anti-Business Record

Last week Mr. Burkholder, an Oakley blogger, attacked me for reporting that the California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) reveals that DeSaulnier votes against business 87.3% of the time.

The Democrat Party has been in charge of the California Senate for the last 40 years. As such, the Democrats have controlled the legislative process concerning what legislation gets passed when it comes to regulations and taxes. What has been the result of 40 years of Democrat control of the legislative process? Most of us will agree that 40 years ago California had one of the best business climates and educational systems in the world.

Now California is enduring % unemployment/underemployment for the last 3.5 years according to U.S. Dept. of Labor U-6 report. Some might argue that California’s 20.3% unemployment/underemployment is former President Bush’s fault and has nothing to do with the California legislature. If that were the case, why has Chief Executive magazine ranked California the worst state to do business in for the last eight years in a row? If our 20.3% unemployment/underemployment were all based upon Bush, why does California continue to lose 4.9 corporations a week to other states? These corporations are taking good California jobs and are moving them elsewhere.

DeSaulnier has stated that California should be proud that we are the 9^th largest economy in the world with 38 million people. However, I remember when California was the 5^th largest economy in the world with 23 million people. This means that California’s productivity is declining even as the population is growing. This means that the standard of living is dropping in this state. It also means that California is not the golden state; it is the brass state for many people.

Mr. Burkholder did an excellent job of showing the numbers of how DeSaulnier votes against business each year. However, Mr. Burkholder’s erroneous conclusion that the CalChamber voting record favors Republicans lacks journalistic integrity. We must remember that CalChamber represents business. CalChamber’s mission is to educate its members on public policy issues that affect business. The CalChamber’s members are Democrats as well as Republicans. Business should not be a left or a right issue; it should be a California issue. Rather than claim that CalChamber favors Republicans, Mr. Burkholder should be looking at the bills that CalChamber is focusing upon each year and start holding our elected officials accountable for their anti-business votes.

Let’s take a few minutes to look at a few of the bills that reveal DeSaulnier’s anti-business values.

In 2007, DeSaulnier voted once with the Chamber’s position and 13 times against the Chamber. One of DeSaulnier’s anti-business votes was for AB 504 which forced employers to pay striking employees.

In 2008, DeSaulnier voted twice with the Chamber’s position and 13 times against the Chamber. One of DeSaulnier’s anti-business votes was for SB 974 which made California less competitive by increasing the cost of shipping goods by imposing a per-container tax for California’s ports.

In 2009, DeSaulnier voted twice with the Chamber’s position and 10 times against the Chamber. One of DeSaulnier’s anti-business votes was for AB 2 which increased health care premiums by establishing litigation as the only meaningful approach to resolve disputes over rescinding coverage.

In 2010, DeSaulnier voted three times with the Chamber’s position and 13 times against the Chamber. One of DeSaulnier’s anti-business votes was for SB 145, which he authored supported higher workman’s compensation by making the employer pay for disabilities that were not work related.

In 2011, DeSaulnier voted once with the Chamber’s position and 13 times against the Chamber. One of DeSaulnier’s anti-business votes was for SB 535 the “Cap and Trade” bill which opens the door for unlimited fees and taxes which hurt not only business but raise the cost of living for all residents.

Thus, between 2007 and 2011, the California Chamber of Commerce has identified 71 bills that they feel are important to business. DeSaulnier voted opposite of the Chamber 62 times or 87.3% of the time.

Mr. Burkholder was quick to argue that DeSaulnier was not the worst candidate each year when it came to business records. However, just because DeSaulnier does not have the absolute worst CalChamber record does not change the fact that DeSaulnier continually votes for job-killing legislation. Look at DeSaulnier’s voting record, not the political rhetoric. 

Each year, the California Democrat controlled Senate has voted to create new boards and commissions that have continually expanded the size of California’s government. The size of California’s budget and the amount of control the government has over your life has grown out of control. In fact, California currently has about 519 different government agencies. Where do you draw the line? How much government is enough?

As for me, I believe that a smaller government is a better government. Our Founding Fathers rebelled against the tyranny of Great Britain because Great Britain continued to micromanage the affairs of the colonies. If elected to the California Senate, it is my goal to fight for the people, to fight for our California businesses, and to fight for our communities. A thriving California is again possible if we release the heavy burden of government and allow the people to innovate and bloom once again. 

Mark Meuser is a candidate for State Senate District 7. You can follow him on Facebook.