Posted on Thu, Sep. 02, 2010

Sam Blakeslee won election to the state Senate just over two weeks ago, on Aug. 17. He has had no time to rest, with the Legislature furiously taking up legislation to send to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger — or not.

Blakeslee replaced Abel Maldonado and became the Central Coast’s sole representative in the Legislature.

He resigned from his Assembly seat to become state senator. Voters will choose his Assembly replacement in November.

Maldonado resigned to become lieutenant governor.

Here are the positions taken by Blakeslee on key bills this week.

Senate Bill 1474

This bill dealt with farmworkers’ rights to form labor unions.

It allows for the filing of a petition signed by a majority of employees in a “collective bargaining unit,” or accompanied with cards signed by a majority of the current employees in a bargaining unit, with the Agricultural Labor Relations Board to seek representatives to collectively bargain for the employees.

Blakeslee’s stance: No.

Outcome: Passed by the Legislature; on the governor’s desk.

Blakeslee said: “This is an undemocratic bill that could force unionization despite the will and vote of workers. Although employers should be heavily sanctioned when laws are violated, penalties should be financial and levied solely on the employer, rather than force a particular unionization outcome on workers.”

Senate Bill 1391

This bill allows California to recoup tax credits that had been given to corporations to create jobs if the business moves out of state or decreases jobs.

Blakeslee’s stance: No.

Outcome: Passed Assembly, failed in Senate.

Author Leland Yee said, “Tax expenditures for corporations are created with the argument that they will create jobs and fuel economic development.

“Yet, under existing law, it is nearly impossible to track which companies are receiving tax credits and if those subsidies are meeting the job creation goals of the expenditure.

“Corporations are even permitted to take taxpayer money and relocate to other states.” Arizona, Nevada and 18 other states have similar laws.

Blakeslee said: “This simplistic one-size-fits-all bill misses the key point: In those cases where job losses still occurred, those losses may have been dramatically reduced due to the credit. If the credit had been larger, in some cases more jobs would have been saved. Simply rescinding or reducing the incentive may trigger greater job loss. I support an evaluation of the effects of our tax policy that would allow for credits to be adjusted up or down in a manner that is most protective of jobs.”

Assembly Bill 1934

This bill would have made it a misdemeanor to openly carry a handgun in a public place.

Blakeslee’s stance: No.

Outcome: Failed in Assembly.

Blakeslee said: “This is another example of a badly written law in search of a problem. “There have been no incidents reported in the news or by law enforcement of any ‘open carry’ advocate using their firearm in a crime. In addition, current law already addresses brandishing an unloaded firearm in a threatening manner.

“The provisions of the bill are confusing and impractical. In rural communities like ours, these restrictions could easily cause law-abiding hunters to run afoul of the law.

“Under this bill, a hunter violates the law when carrying an unloaded handgun back to the locked container in his or her vehicle. There is an exception for possession inside a home but not on one’s own property.”

Assembly Bill 1998

This bill would have banned plastic grocery bags.

Blakeslee’s stance: Abstained.

Outcome: Failed in Senate.

Blakeslee said: “While I support the effort to reduce plastic bag waste, the defects in this bill produce serious environmental concerns. “The bill only earned 14 votes, with eight Democrats — including leading environmentalists — voting no.

“Furthermore, both Republicans and Democrats expressed concern that the bill would have significant economic impacts on working families in the depth of a recession.

“Rather than voting no, I abstained because I sought to signal my desire to work with parties to find a superior solution.”

Senate Bill 1451

This bill requires the state Board of Education to review all social studies textbooks used in California to ensure that they have not been changed as a result of textbook changes in Texas.

Among other changes criticized as political, the Texas Board of Education questioned the separation of church and state, gave Confederate President Jefferson Davis equal time with President Abraham Lincoln, and emphasized the conservative resurgence of the 1980s and 1990s.

Blakeslee’s stance: No.

Outcome: Passed by the Legislature, on the governor’s desk.

Blakeslee said: “This bill is unnecessary as California already has a strict and effective process for establishing curriculum standard for textbooks used in our schools.

“Adding yet another redundant government program in the midst of a budget crisis detracts from the money that ultimately gets in the classroom. The changes adopted in Texas have no bearing on California curriculum standards.

“Textbook publishers will still have to meet California’s standards if they want their textbooks to be used in California schools.”

Assembly Bill 1987

A pension-reform bill, it establishes minimum requirements that all public retirement systems must be operated in accordance with, including specifying what may be used in determining an employee’s final compensation.

It also requires the establishment of an ongoing audit process with penalties for noncompliance and prohibiting, for a period of at least 180 days, a retiree from returning to work for the public employer on a part-time or contract basis.

Blakeslee’s stance: Yes.

Outcome: Passed by the Legislature; on the governor’s desk.

Blakeslee said: “I supported this reform bill to stop pension spiking. This common-sense measure to root out costly pension abuse received overwhelming bipartisan support.”

Senate Bill 220

This bill mandates that health plans cover services to help people stop smoking.

Blakeslee’s stance: Yes.

Outcome: Passed by the Legislature; on the governor’s desk.

Blakeslee said: “SB 220 requires insurance companies to cover comprehensive tobacco cessation services.

“I supported a similar bill five years ago and authored a measure, AB 3010, to bring smoking cessation programs to our state mental hospitals. The negative health and economic impacts of smoking are well documented.

“Smoking results in higher medical costs, lost productivity and worker absenteeism, costing California’s economy roughly $18 billion a year.”

Assembly Bill 12

This bill is designed to help foster children who are “aging out” of the system and who do not have a family or base of support and direction.

Blakeslee’s stance: Yes.

Outcome: Passed by the Legislature; on the governor’s desk.

Blakeslee said: “This bill helps foster kids during a very vulnerable time — when they are transitioning out of the foster system and into independent adulthood.

“The measure also ensures that California can take advantage of opportunities for federal funds, which is a common-sense solution during this fiscal crisis.”

Assembly Bill 1699

This bill was intended to provide a “continuous appropriation” when there is a budget delay to continue paying salaries and benefits of state employees, as well as providing payments to state vendors.

Blakeslee’s stance: Yes.

Outcome: Failed in the Senate.

Blakeslee said: “We should not hold state employees and small businesses hostage during a budget delay.

“California taxpayers expect state services to continue regardless of political disputes, and the state employees and vendors who provide these services should be paid for their work.”