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AN ELECTION YEAR AHEAD
As we begin a new year, the Legislature resumes its work in Sacramento. This is the second year of a two-year session. Bills introduced last year, if they are not dead, are carried over. PCOC will be ever vigilant in watching for proposals that threaten the well being of the pest control industry in California. There are some things that will remain the same: Democrats will retain control of the Legislature and California's congressional delegation. No surprise there. Gov. Jerry Brown will almost certainly be re-elected to a fourth term. Democrats will continue to dominate the other statewide offices. This year, 2014, is an election year and potentially has significant ramifications. We don't know whether the Democratic supermajority in both houses of the Legislature will survive. There is probably a 50-50 chance that Republicans will gain enough seats to once again make them relevant on legislation that requires a two-thirds vote, such as urgency clauses, increasing taxes or constitutional amendments. The possibility of a Republican recovery in legislation elections creates another interesting scenario: whether Democratic leaders will attempt a pre-preemptive strike, using the current supermajorities this year before they lose their influence. Both current leaders, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez must both step down this year due to term limits. There is great uncertainty as to who will succeed them....which leads to all kinds of strange dynamics that could seriously affect potential legislation...good and bad. The statewide ballot measures that qualify will produce a great deal of action this year. Several dozen potential ballot initiatives are pending. These deal with such issues as a split property tax roll, pension reform and cigarette taxes. All in all a very interesting year ahead. Happy New Year!
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