Ambitious Bipartisan Effort Leads to “Keep California Working”
Thanks to bipartisan efforts, struggling small businesses and non-profits received a much-needed boost this past month. Senate Republicans are pleased that Senate Democrats joined them in passing an early action budget measure that will provide more than $2 billion in immediate economic relief to job creators and non-profits that have been affected by the state’s confusing closing and re-opening guidelines. Members of the California Senate Republican Caucus are principal co-authors of Senate Bill 87.
SB 87 stemmed from the measure “Keep California Working Act” (SB 74) introduced by Republican Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno) in December 2020. Legislative Democrats agreed to include some of the proposals from SB 74 in the budget bill.
“The Keep California Working Act proved that when legislators put aside partisan differences, we can accomplish great things and deliver for the people of California,” said Senator Borgeas. “I would like to personally thank Senator Anna Caballero and Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, members of our staff who worked on the bill, the supporting organizations, and the sixty-one other legislators who signed on to the Keep California Working Act.”
“Last year we set out to deliver relief funds to small businesses and nonprofits in an expedited fashion, and we were successful in influencing the Governor and legislative leadership to include our proposal in the budget within three short months – an atypical timeline by Sacramento standards,” added Senator Borgeas. “Now, I am counting on the Governor’s administration to get this money into the hands of small businesses and nonprofits in need.”
“Every legislator could tell a personal story about a business that has shuttered its doors permanently because of the state’s confusing guidelines. California has already lost more than 19,000 businesses or non-profits because of the state’s confusing guidelines and many more are in precarious situations. This won’t undo the damage caused by the shutdowns, but it will provide a definite boost in the arm for our job creators and non-profits,” said Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita).
He added, “Thanks to Senator Borgeas for his leadership and tireless efforts to unite the business community and the legislature to ‘Keep California Working.’ A win for bipartisanship is a win for our small business community because good ideas shouldn’t have party lines.”
According to Senator Borgeas, “This was a lightening fast effort to get this bill included in the 2021 budget, which was the work of 63 of 120 legislatures, plus various organizations: 15 counties, the Farm Bureau, Rent Association, and 80-plus chamber of commerce across the state.”
The intent of Senate Bill 74 is to provide a one-time grant to small businesses with 100 or less employees and provide them with financial support due to income lost during the pandemic.
Borgeas offered, “The public sentiment is that we need to do something to move the needle. The need and demand from small businesses is for an equitable distribution of funds to allow them to keep operating.”
“Last year we set out to deliver relief funds to small businesses and nonprofits in an expedited fashion, and we were successful in influencing the Governor and legislative leadership to include our proposal in the budget within three short months – an atypical timeline by Sacramento standards,” added Senator Borgeas. “Now, I am counting on the Governor’s administration to get this money into the hands of small businesses and nonprofits in need.”
Category: Business, feature, Government, Local News, Politics
