Today, I was joined by Assembly Speaker John Perez and members of the Select Committee on Job Creation for the New Economy to probe how the legislature can help create innovative jobs in the 21st Century.
The meeting focused on California’s economy, what Los Angeles-area leaders are doing to foster job growth and to attract 21st Century jobs. Witnesses emphasized the need for workforce preparedness, regulatory relief and a consistent tax policy so businesses can plan for the future. We confirmed that the problems facing our state are real and we must act now to create jobs. I look forward to working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle next year to ensure California is a competitive place to create jobs and get people working again. Read the San Diego Union-Tribune’s full coverage of the hearing here and an except is below.
In a hearing at California State University at Los Angeles, half a dozen economists and business leaders told the panel of their ideas for revamping the economy, which largely focused on streamlining regulations, revamping the tax code and refocusing the education system that could feed a modernized workforce.
Although those themes have been sounded many times before, the panel members – dealing with the worst recession since the Great Depression – seemed eager to hear as many specific ideas as possible, even if they challenged long-standing practices in Sacramento.
“We can’t take kneejerk positions and decide not to do things just because it’s not the way we’ve done it in the past,” said Fletcher, who chairs the committee. “We have to be willing to look at things as if we’re rebuilding them from scratch.”