Reparations
In his Aug. 15 letter to the Orange County Business Journal, Sen. John Campbell grossly mischaracterized my bill, SB 645, which will set up a commission to investigate the forcible removal of U.S. citizens to Mexico during the 1930s.
First, Sen. Campbell wrote that the bill “would spend scarce state money to set up (the) commission.” Wrong. The bill specifically states that only private money could be used to establish and operate the commission.
Second, Sen. Campbell wrote that the true purpose of the bill is to encourage reparations to “the descendants of those who were deported.”
Wrong again. The bill says that if the commission deems reparations necessary to achieve justice for those illegally removed from their country, then the reparations would only go to those who were removed and still alive,not the descendants of those who were removed.
Sen. Campbell is facing heat in his run for Congress from the anti-immigrant, hard-right wing for his 2001 vote for a bill that allows undocumented students to pay the lower, resident tuition rates in the state’s college/university system.
Now he feels the need to lash out at American citizens who were illegally repatriated to Mexico, some of whom have served our country in war.
I would hope than in his effort to bolster his conservative credentials, Sen. Campbell would at least stick to the facts.
State Sen. Joseph L. Dunn
D-Garden Grove
CAFTA
The California Chamber of Commerce applauds the free trade agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic. This agreement creates a seamless business environment between the economies, bringing measurable benefits in all sectors and direct benefits to California.
Under the agreement, more than 80% of U.S. exports will be able to enter CAFTA countries duty-free, with all products having duty-free access in 10 years.
The U.S. and the six countries represented by CAFTA share more than $32 billion in two-way trade. The U.S. is the main supplier of goods and services to CAFTA economies, accounting for 40% of the goods imported by them.
Leading U.S. exports to Central America include textiles, machinery, electrical machinery and equipment, and plastics. Leading U.S. imports from CAFTA countries include apparel and fruit.
California exports to the CAFTA market totaled nearly $660 million in 2004, making it the state’s 25th largest export market.
The California Chamber of Commerce supports this free trade agreement because it:
n is a critical element of the U.S. strategy of seeking to liberalize trade through multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives.
n will complement the goal of completing a free trade area of the Americas.
n will increase momentum toward lowering trade barriers and set a positive example for other small economies in the Western Hemisphere.
The California Chamber, in keeping with longstanding policy, enthusiastically supports free trade, expansion of international trade and investment, fair and equitable market access for California products abroad and elimination of disincentives that impede the international competitiveness of California business.
New multilateral, sectoral and regional trade agreements ensure that the U.S. may continue to gain access to world markets, resulting in an improved economy and additional employment of Americans.
Allan Zaremberg
President
California Chamber of Commerce
Sacramento
Energy Loans
Many California small businesses are struggling to make ends meet in a state often criticized for its unfriendly and over-regulated business environment. These businesses need every break and economic incentive possible.
The California Public Utilities Commission now has the opportunity to vote for the 2006 program applications by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas and San Diego Gas & Electric providing “on- and off-bill financing” for small businesses.
The financing is a method of eliminating many of the cost barriers that discourage small businesses from investing in energy-saving equipment. It provides small businesses with zero or low-interest financing for such retrofitting, with the loan repayment based on estimated savings.
The loan and the repayment are rolled into the monthly energy bill; monthly payments remain approximately the same until the loan is paid off (often in less than two years) when energy savings become reflected in lower bills. To qualify, a small business need only to have a good credit history with the utility.
California small businesses now will be able to invest thousands of dollars toward equipment designed to lower energy costs. This also will reduce emissions and free up more power for the grid, reducing the chance of brownouts or outages.
Several successful financing programs already exist in New England. California’s investor-owned utilities should be commended for their cooperative leadership as they offer this much needed financial tool. The Public Utilities Commission now should approve these programs.
Scott Hauge and Hank Ryan
(Hauge is president and Ryan is executive director of San Francisco-based Small Business California, www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org.)
Children’s Hospitals
In your June 27 Media and Marketing column, the creative director of a marketing campaign for Children’s Hospital of Orange County said, “CHOC is unique in that it is the only children’s hospital in the county.”
That is inaccurate. UCI Medical Center has a children’s hospital as well.
This is extremely important, because the children’s hospital designation is given by the state and it requires a facility to meet certain qualifications. It also is important to note that UCI’s children’s hospital is the only university-based children’s facility in Orange County.
UCI Medical Center’s University Children’s Hospital is devoted exclusively to the care of children from before birth through late adolescence and has been providing medical care to children since 1976.
Andrew Werts
Redondo Beach
