ADVOCATING FOR THE INDUSTRY


AGC Holds A 'Virtual' Legislative Day


By Felipe Fuentes


longer the COVID pandemic would continue to ravage the health and fiscal well-being of the state’s residents. Because of the pandemic, AGC legislative and political events through the first half of the year were done electronically. Be it the joint AGC Legislative Committee or a political fundraiser, AGC members and staff continued to represent the “voice of the industry” loudly – albeit by webcam. In fact, on May 25 both the AGC


T


of California and AGC San Diego chapters hosted a 'Virtual' Legislative Day with nearly 100 AGC member participants. Tough unable to meet in the Capitol as in years past, eight legislators representing key committee


he start of the 2021 legislative session brought with it continued trepidation about how much


Rather than facing historic levels of unemployment and a budget deficit


of $54 billion, as was once feared, California’s budget roared back to having a surplus of over $75 billion dollars.


and political leadership roles met with AGC membership in eight separate “breakout rooms” to hear about construction industry priorities as well as bills of concern to AGC. Additionally, AGC members


heard from public affairs expert and former deputy chief of staff to


Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rob Stutzman. Having served as communications director during the historic California Recall of 2003 that placed Schwarzenegger in office, Stutzman gave an insider’s perspective on the intersection of public policy and politics unfolding in the 2021 guberna- torial recall. Just halfway through the legislative


session and year, and ostensibly with the pandemic under control, there was much to update the membership about at the 'virtual' Legislative Day.


The State Budget What began as a pandemic induced


recession has morphed into a flush California treasury, made possible by the wealthier of state residents. While the state economy has swung back quicker than imagined, the hardest hit residents of the pandemic remain


6 July/August 2021


California Constructor


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