In recent months, I have hosted (along with some of my Conservative Legislative colleagues) several legislative hearings in Southern California on state government’s over-regulation of small business.

During these meetings I heard testimony from proprietors of a variety of companies – from restaurateurs and manufacturers to farmers and mechanics.

Each of these small business owners may wear different hats but they have one thing in common: They are feeling the pain and destruction of government’s eagerness to impose one regulation after the other. Over-regulation has made it near impossible (and unattractive) to run a business in the Golden State. AB 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) is the king of all regulatory laws and it has not even hit its full stride yet.

Click here to watch a brief video of the legislative hearing.

The testimony did not fall on deaf ears. Conservative Legislators are continuing to fight for a better business climate in California, which will lead to job growth and a robust economy. This Antelope Valley Press piece tells the story of our work in Sacramento, including our efforts to streamline regulatory processes and move stalled projects forward as quickly as possible.

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Ronald Reagan Day bill passes Senate

I am pleased to announce my bill that would create a “Ronald Reagan Day” in California unanimously passed the Senate today. When enacted, Senate Bill 944 will formally encourage the celebration of the life and legacy of President Reagan throughout California’s schools for the first Ronald Reagan Day on his 100th Birthday in 2011, as well as every Feb. 6 thereafter.

It’s important for California school children to study a meaningful and well-known political leader like Reagan, whose earlier accomplishments are a model of personal responsibility and an inspiration to young, developing minds.

The bill now moves to the Assembly and faces no opposition.

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While Rome burns, the Legislature adds more gas to the fire

Californians could pay $15 million in taxes on batteries thanks to Liberals.

As California families struggle to make ends meet and unemployment in some counties tops 20 percent, you would think the Legislature would get out of the way of the free market and the entrepreneurs who provide job growth.

But you would be thinking wrong. Instead, liberal Senators passed a bill yesterday in the Senate Environmental Quality Committee that will make batteries more expense. (By the way, I am the vice chair of this committee and voted “no” on the bill).

Senate Bill 1100 (Corbett) will create new fees on batteries, which will be handed down to the consumer at the tune of about $15 million per year. And since the fee in this bill has not been determined, it could get pretty pricey.

Other problems include opening a Pandora’s Box to further implementation on other much-maligned items like fluorescent light bulbs, medical sharps and paints.

In a TV report last night, ABC’s Nannette Miranda exposes the costs of this bill.