California Chamber of Commerce

The California Chamber of Commerce (CalChamber) is the largest broad-based business advocacy group in California. Membership represents one-quarter of the private sector jobs in California and includes firms of all sizes and companies from every industry within the state. The CalChamber provides products and services to help businesses and human resources (HR) professionals comply with both federal and state employment law. As a not-for-profit organization with roots dating to 1890, the CalChamber promotes international trade and investment to stimulate California's economy and create jobs.

California Chamber of Commerce
Founded1890
FocusBusiness advocacy, HR compliance
Location
Area served
California
Members
14,000+
Websitewww.calchamber.com

CalChamber has over 14,000 members, who collectively employ one quarter of the private sector workforce in California. Three-quarters of CalChamber's members have 100 or fewer employees.

Board of directors

The members of the CalChamber's Board of Directors are elected by the CalChamber’s members and are ranking executives in their organizations, representing many of the state’s leading firms and industries, as well as the small business segment.

Allan Zaremberg - President and CEO

History

The CalChamber traces its roots directly to the California State Board of Trade, which incorporated on February 20, 1890 after three years as a voluntary organization. The primary goal of the organization in those early years was to encourage immigration to California, a goal of the State Board of Trade pursued by publishing and circulating statistical and other descriptive information on the growth and products of the state.

In an effort to more effectively promote the business of the state, the California State Board of Trade merged with the Manufacturers and Producers Association of California and the California Promotion Committee in 1910. The new combined group, known as the California Development Board, carried out the aims of its parent groups. The board continued to promote immigration to California, the main focus of the Board of Trade. It encouraged pride in California-made products, as had the Manufacturers and Producers Association. It also disseminated information about the state, as had the California Promotion Committee.

To better deal with the complexities of supporting a sound business climate in a rapidly growing state, the California Development Board merged with the California Industries Association in 1921 to form the California Development Association, Commerce and Industry. In September 1929, the organization incorporated as the California State Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry.

In 1972, the Board of Directors adopted the shorter name: California Chamber of Commerce.[1]

Advocacy projects

Among other positions, the Chamber advocates against increases in unemployment insurance costs,[2] and taxes.[3]

Job Killers

Each year, the CalChamber releases a list of "job killer" bills to identify legislation that will, in the chamber's view, hurt economic and job growth in California. [8]♙.[4] The CalChamber tracks the bills throughout the rest of the legislative session and works to educate legislators about the serious consequences these bills will have on the state. Updates on the "job killers" appear on its website.

  • 2019 "job killers" - 31 job killer bills identified, 2 sent to Governor Newsom, 1 signed, 1 vetoed
  • 2018 "job killers" - 29 job killer bills identified, 1 sent to Governor Brown, 1 vetoed
  • 2017 "job killers" - 27 job killer bills identified, 3 sent to Governor Brown, 1 vetoed [5][6]
  • 2016 "job killers" - 24 job killer bills identified, 5 sent to Governor Brown, 1 vetoed [7][8]
  • 2015 "job killers" - 19 job killer bills identified, 3 sent to Governor Brown, 2 vetoed [9]
  • 2014 "job killers" - 27 job killer bills identified, 2 sent to Governor Brown, 2 signed [10]
  • 2013 "job killers" - 38 job killer bills identified, 1 sent to Governor Brown, 1 signed [11]
  • 2012 "job killers" - 32 job killer bills identified, 6 sent to Governor Brown, 2 vetoed [12]
  • 2011 "job killers" - 30 job killer bills identified, 5 sent to Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., 4 vetoed
  • 2010 "job killers" - 43 job killer bills identified, 12 sent to Governor Schwarzenegger, 10 vetoed [13]
  • 2009 "job killers" - 33 job killer bills identified, 6 sent to Governor Schwarzenegger, 6 vetoed
  • 2008 "job killers" - 39 job killer bills identified, 10 sent to Governor Schwarzenegger, 9 vetoed
  • 2007 "job killers" - 30 job killer bills identified, 12 sent to Governor Schwarzenegger, 12 vetoed
  • 2006 "job killers" - 40 job killer bills identified, 11 sent to Governor Schwarzenegger, 9 vetoed
  • 2005 "job killers" - 45 job killer bills identified, 8 sent to Governor Schwarzenegger, 7 vetoed
  • 2004 "job killers" - 23 job killer bills identified; 10 sent to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, 10 vetoed

References
  1. California: Triumph of the Entrepreneurial Spirit, 1989 Windsor Publications, Inc., page 240.
  2. [http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/print-edition/2011/05/27/employer-jobless-tax-could-rise.html Sacramento Business Journal, May 27, 2011
  3. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704829704575049861057266800 The Wall Street Journal, February 7, 2010
  4. Sacramento Business Journal, May 26, 2011
  5. Gordon Webster blog in The Business Journal, November 6, 2017
  6. Who were the winners — and the big loser — of California’s legislative session? Katy Murphy, Bay Area News Group, October 16, 2017
  7. Dan Walters in The Sacramento Bee, October 3, 2016
  8. George Lurie in The Business Journal, October 19, 2016
  9. Dan Walters in The Sacramento Bee, November 19, 2015
  10. Orange County Business Council, April 22, 2014
  11. Los Angeles Times, September 22, 2013
  12. The Sacramento Bee, April 12, 2012
  13. The Orange County Register, May 17, 2010
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