Source: Headington Media Group

A number of issues were discussed at the September Chamber Government Affairs & Transportation Committee (GA/TC)-from a presentation on Eco-Rapid Transit to an update on the situation in Syria and a conversation on what is to be expected during the last week of the California legislative session (which ended September 12^th)

The crowd of roughly two dozen included College of the Canyons Board of Trustees Member Bruce Fortine, Hart School Board Member Gloria Mercado-Fortine and Santa Clarita City Councilmember Marsha McLean.

GA/TC Co-Chair and new partner at Poole & Shaffery law firm, Hunt Braly, brought the meeting to order and his Co-Chair and Ex. Dir. of the Golden State Gateway Coalition, Victor Lindenheim, led the conversation on transportation. Lindenheim brought up the 12^th Annual Transportation Summit set for October 29^th in Downtown Los Angeles and updated everyone on changes to Sunday rail service and recent damage to the I5 bridge that slowed down traffic near Magic Mountain.

Brett Walter, Field Representative for Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), told everyone that Congress is back in session and that both Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry were speaking about Syria before the House Armed Services Committee-which his member chairs. You can click here to read Congressman McKeon’s take on Syria that ran in the Wall Street Journal. Walter brought up that a budget is needed to avoid a government shutdown and that immigration is now a backburner issue and will not be addressed until October at the earliest.

***Since the GA/TC meeting, Congressman McKeon penned an op-ed in the Moscow Times responding to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s piece in the New York Times. The context is intervention in Syria and American Exceptionalism. You can click here for the full article; below is an excerpt.

Source: SCV Signal

“… Using flowery language about internationalism, diplomacy and compassion, Putin made a few reasonable points, but by and large he drew entirely the wrong conclusions about the nature of the Syrian conflict and the lessons he should learn about the U.S. response. … History is on our side. Putin may be a fair-weather UN fan. So be it. But make no mistake: It is the U.S., not the UN, that has provided the strategic framework for stability and peace since World War II.”

Sarah Tyndall, Field Representative for state Senator Steve Knight (R-Antelope Valley), noted there were still two bills of his remaining during the last week of session (click here for his full legislative package) and that he was pleased to have SB 303 (dealing with law enforcement retiree ID and CCW’s) pass through both houses of the legislature and get signed by Governor Brown. You can click here for more information. Tyndall also encouraged anyone affected by the new fire fee and/or who had an idea for legislation to contact the office.

***Since the GA/TC meeting, Governor Brown signed into law SB 105, a bill co-authored by Senator Knight in an effort to comply with the Supreme Court’s order to reduce California’s prison population (by increasing the number of cells rather than releasing upwards of 10,000 inmates). You can click here for the press release. Knight also authored SB 582, a bill to aid taxpayers that now sits on the Governor’s desk. It would require the Board of Equalization (BOE), Franchise Tax Board (FTB), and Employment Development Department (EDD) to develop a web-based portal that virtually consolidates the agencies to enable online, self-service access through a single logon for taxpayers.

No reports from the office of state Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills). You can contact her District Director, Kara Seward, with any issues, concerns or updates.

Source: Headington Media Group

Erik Richardson, Field Representative for Assemblymember Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), spoke about gun legislation opposed by Wilk: SB 567 (reclassifying shotguns as assault rifles), SB 374 (redefining any firearm with a detachable magazine as an assault rifle) and AB 711 (requiring non-lead ammunition while hunting big game and coyotes). You can click here for his full legislative package.

While no bills made it to the Governor’s desk, Assemblymember Wilk did get Assembly Concurrent Resolution 5 passed earlier in the year which designated February 6^th, the Great Communicator’s birthday, as Ronald Reagan Day in California. Richardson also noted that while Wilk’s two major bills are being held as two-year bills-AB 1221 (school employee discipline/dismissal) and AB 806 (community college instructor salaries), the big push is bringing further clarity to the budget process through supporting bills like ACA 4-which would amend the California constitution to say that no bill can be passed without 72 hours advanced notice to the public.

About the SCV Chamber Government Affairs & Transportation Committee   Our Government Affairs & Transportation Committee (GA/TC) reviews legislative bills and issues brought before them from local, county, state and federal sources, and crafts policy positions for Executive Committee and Board of Director’s support or opposition. The GA/TC also looks over and considers policy position statements on local bond issues. Candidates running for public office on the local level can present before the GA/TC for possible Chamber of Commerce endorsement. Source: Headington Media Group It meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 10:30 a.m. in the Chamber boardroom. Hunt Braly and Victor Lindenheim are the GA/TC Co-Chairs. For more information on this committee, our events or other related Chamber issues, please call (661) 702-6977 or email info@scvchamber.com.

Introducing “The Chamber Minute”   Source: Headington Media Group The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest in the state, has launched a new outreach and advocacy effort called ” The Chamber Minute.” It will be used as a way to involve and galvanize the business community around issues, concerns and challenges facing the valley. The inaugural edition was on Chlorides and expect more this fall. Speakers in order of appearance: Terri Crain, President & CEO of the SCV Chamber; Fred Arnold, Chairman of the Board of the SCV Chamber; Greg Amsler, Owner of Salt Creek Grille; and Bill Barritt, CFO of Aerospace Dynamics, Inc. It can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/70775498.

Changes to Chamber Facebook Page The Chamber Facebook page is moving and you are urged to “LIKE” it even if you are part of the old page. The URL is www.facebook.com/chamberscv. The old page will be phased out soon.

Source: Headington Media Group

“”A true leader is someone who helps you accomplish your dreams and goals.” Fred Arnold, SCV State of the Chamber Address, 9/11/13.