Bob Fox Analysis

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 4, 2004) -- May 28 was the deadline for getting bills passed out of the house of origin. A significant number of bills that CTBA has been monitoring are now dead, unless they receive a rule waiver and are amended.

The summaries on the Legislative page include the horseracing bills and the CTBA non-racing bills that we have been monitoring and/or lobbying. At the end of each bill summary, there is a comment on the status of the bill and in some cases information on the bills that CTBA has taken a position on.

AB 2832, by Assemblywoman Sally Leiber is a bill that CTBA strongly opposes. It would increase the minimum wage to $7.25 in 2005, and to $7.75 in 2006. A large coalition of business organizations is opposing the bill and it is expected that if the bill passes, the Governor will veto it. However, letters of opposition to the appropriate committee are important.

When the bill is set for hearing in committee, CTBA members will be notified and there should be a strong grass roots effort to request that the Senate defeat the bill. CTBA members should contact their Senator and express their opposition at the appropriate time. It is currently in Senate Rules committee to be assigned to the policy committee for hearing and once it has been assigned, we will provide the names of the committee members so CTBA can communicate directly with them.