Regarding'Adding to burden/Dems' plans turning business climate darker" (Editorial, July 23):
The Union-Tribune is absolutely correct in its assessment that our California lawmakers are creating a hostile business environment. However, businesses are actually being assaulted by lawmakers on three fronts - taxation, regulation and litigation.
During this current legislative session,every bill our watchdog orgarizaton, San Diego County Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (in which I serve as president), supported was killed in committee on a party-line vote: class-action reform, cutting down on meritless and frivolous claims, giving businesses a short time to make ADA-related repairs before being sued, etc.
A recent survey showed that 88 percent of business owners believe frivolous lawsuits are a serious problem and 73 percent want the legislature to enact laws to help protect business from unfair and frivolous suits, Instead, our lawmakers are doing the exact opposite. As other states are enacting successful tort reforms and creating more favorable business climates, personal injury lawyers are descending on California in the new 21st century gold rush.
Most business owners will likely never make an attempt to directly contact their legislator and demand relief since it seems like a lost cause given our hopelessly gerrymandered districts. They are more likely to just pack up and vote with their feet, taking their tax dollars and jobs to a more welcoming state.
LORIE ZAPF San Diego |