In a tough economy, however, it makes no sense to us that businesses and services should be further taxed.  Government will automatically take in more tax revenue when businesses thrive.  Business cannot thrive, expand, hire or grow when government takes more money from them or favors one set of businesses--picking winners--over others. 

Capital follows certainty.  New laws enacted by the Governor, like AB 32--where one government agency is developing greenhouse gas rules different from another government agency and where the attorney general office sues to create a third set of rules--do not assure certainty for business and investment in a volatile marketplace.  How about suspending some of these for a while so regulators can get their act together and incentivize business growth, not kill it.  How about incentivizing new investment with real CEQA reform, streamlining government review, eliminating overlapping commissions and departments?  And, what ever happened to the Governor’s proposal to “blow up the boxes” of state government to create a leaner, more efficient system?  Why do we have a State Superintendent of Schools AND a Secretary of Education, for example, when education needs money at the local level, not more red-tape administration from the top?

Instead of taxes, we call on the Governor to use his emergency powers to immediately authorize “design-build” of infrastructure projects like waterways and roads to hasten the rebuilding of the state’s economy and immediately create new jobs. 

The Orange County Business Council performed well at the ballot box last week. Both Orange County and California voters largely reflected the Business Council's board-adopted positions on statewide propositions and local elections. OCBC took positions on issues and candidates consistent with the principles outlined in OCBC's 2007-08 Legislative Action Guide.

Statewide Ballot Propositions

Proposition	Title	OCBC Position	OC Voters	CA Voters
1A	Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act	YES	NO	YES
2	Animal Confinement Practices	NO	YES	YES
7	Use of Alternative Fuels	NO	NO	NO
10	Alternative Fuels Initiative	NO	NO	NO
11	Voters First Act: Redistricting	YES	YES	YES
12	Veterans' Bond Act of 2008 (Housing)	YES	YES	YES

Orange County Issues and Candidates

Measure	Title	OCBC Position	OC Voters
J	Voter Approval of Pensions	YES	YES

"2008 is a once in a lifetime story to tell," said Dr. Anil Puri, Mihaylo College Dean, as he began his forecast. Puri (right) discussed his expectations for the housing market, employment and other critical economic indicators.

Puri’s forecast calls for .5 percent GDP growth in 2009 and a national unemployment rate of 6.8 percent.  In terms of the housing market, Puri sees housing prices continuing to decline over the next six months before stabilizing in the second half of 2009.

Dr. Puri’s report was complemented by a presentation by Joseph Otting, Vice Chairman of U.S. Bancorp.  Otting, who manages U.S. Bancorp’s Commercial Banking Group, gave his perspective on the future of U.S. financial markets. “Every week brings something different for those of us working in the financial industry,” Otting began.  Outlining a financial industry he sees growing more streamlined and efficient, he would add, “I am very optimistic about the American economy.  The entrepreneurial spirit is strong across the country, and that’s where the next big innovations will come from.” 

Paul McCulley, Managing Director, PIMCO, shares his insights into Washington’s $700 billion recovery package and what it means for your business!

Learn what to expect from the new global market and stay ahead of your competition, sustain business growth in an economic downturn, access capital through government programs to expand your business and understand the influence of Orange County in the global economy

Come hear from CEO experts:

OCBC President and CEO Lucy Dunn launched the competition at last week's Economic Forecast Conference. The competition will take place on April 15, 2009 at the Mihaylo College of Business and Economics on the Cal State Fullerton campus. As part of the competition process, business and engineering graduate students from Cal State Fullerton will be available as a resource to the semi-final candidates looking for assistance with their business proposal and presentation.

Governor Schwarzenegger is invited to keynote the conference and discuss his Performance Based Infrastructure (PBI) initiative.  OCBC President and CEO Lucy Dunn will also appear at the conference, in addition to Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle.