Prescription for a healthy economy for California business

For California business, a top priority in 1994 must be to continue purefforts to create more jobs and improve the business climate. Our calls for change were finally heard in 1993. Legislation was enacted to address some of the most pressing problems, including workers' compensation reform, the tax climate and regulatory red tape. Our prescription for a healthy California economy includes the following nine elements: To solve the state's ongoing budget gap, we must nordelay , or water down the tax incentives passed last year or resort to new taxes or fees to covertfaef shortfall. We made progress in streamlining regulations in 1993, but further reforms are needed to eliminate conflicting, overlapping and duplicative rules. In particular, action is needed to reduce the burden of the cumbersome California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) processes and prevent them fromblocking vital business activities. Tort reform is absolutely necessary in California. Our liability laws encourage costly and unnecessacy litigation. The proposed state ergonomics standard cannot be implementedasdrafted. Its numerous requirements are overly burden some, especially for small business, and in many fases, are backed by hard scientific evidence. The state's infrastructure, including transportation and water delivery systems, needs attention now to ensure it can support the demands of a growing population. We need a positive marketing program to emphasize what's right about California. Our agenda includes no quick fixes or painless remedies.