CA hispanic Chamber of C
=<div>note to regional : <b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;">Ruben Barrales</b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;"> (born 1962) is the former Deputy Assistant to President </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W.Bush" title="George W. Bush" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">George W. Bush</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;">, and was also the Director of the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Intergovernmental_Affairs" title="Office of Intergovernmental Affairs" class="mw-redirect" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">Office of Intergovernmental Affairs</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;">.</span><sup id="cite_ref-r1_1-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruben_Barrales#cite_note-r1-1" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-r2_2-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruben_Barrales#cite_note-r2-2" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-r7_3-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruben_Barrales#cite_note-r7-3" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a></sup><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;"> He then served as the CEO of the San Diego Regional</span><b style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_of_Commerce" title="Chamber of Commerce" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">Chamber of Commerce</a></b><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;">. He is currently the President and CEO of GROW Elect, a</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committee" title="Political action committee" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">political action committee</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;"> that recruits, endorses, trains, and funds Latino </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">Republican</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;"> candidates for public office.</span><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruben_Barrales#cite_note-4" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[4]</a></sup><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;"> He also serves on the Board of Directors for the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Policy_Institute_of_California" title="Public Policy Institute of California" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">Public Policy Institute of California</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;">. Barrales has also run as a candidate for the state government post of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Controller" title="California State Controller" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">California State Controller</a><span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em;">.</span></div><p style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em;">Barrales identifies as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_American" title="Mexican American" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">Mexican American</a> and is recognized as the first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic_and_Latino_Americans" title="Hispanic and Latino Americans" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">Latino person</a> to serve on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Mateo_County_Board_of_Supervisors" title="San Mateo County Board of Supervisors" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">San Mateo County Board of Supervisors</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Ruben_5-0" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruben_Barrales#cite_note-Ruben-5" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[5]</a></sup> Barrales has also appeared in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispanic_Business" title="Hispanic Business" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none;">Hispanic Business Magazine’s</a> “100 Most Influential Hispanics” list on three occasions within the last ten years<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruben_Barrales#cite_note-6" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(11, 0, 128); background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[6]</a></sup></p><div>
</div><div>=</div><div>
</div><div>2012 priorities
<h2>Economic Development</h2><p>One of the keys to continued success of Hispanic-owned businesses is
the ability to access business capital. We applaud the efforts of the
Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, which
is responsible for examining issues related to capital formation, among
other economic development policies, programs and services.
CHCC supports legislation that will: </p>
<ul><li>increase the focus on emerging domestic markets (EDM)</li><li>develop new financial products</li><li>address issues of lending discrimination to minority businesses </li><li>identify entrepreneurial opportunities related to state procurement, economic development and workforce investment </li></ul>
<h2>Employment </h2>
<p>Hispanic-owned businesses comply with the most stringent and complex
labor laws in the United States and face some of the highest penalties
when they fail to do so. As a result, CHCC urges the Legislature to
simplify workplace rules and laws, and at the same time to protect
employers’ rights to manage their companies’ employees in an efficient,
safe and productive manner. </p>
<h2>Education</h2>
<p>CHCC recognizes that high school graduates are unprepared for
entry-level jobs because of inadequate skills in basic reading, writing
or math.
CHCC supports legislation that will: </p>
<ul><li>expand work-based learning opportunities</li><li>urge financial aid tuition assistance to low-income high school
students to make a successful transition to postsecondary education</li><li>encourage implementation of programs to assist English language learners</li></ul>
<h2>Health Care</h2>
<p>HCC supports efforts to reduce the cost of health insurance and
increase the number of workers who have health insurance. Health care
reform must provide for adequate grants, tax benefits and/or other means
to improve the affordability and access of health care for Hispanic
business owners. Any reform must also address the disparities in
coverage often seen in Hispanic communities.
CHCC opposes legislation that imposes an employer mandate, and a government-run health care program (single-payer). </p>
<h2>California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006</h2>
<p>AB 32 is the "California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006." It
proposes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the level which existed
in 1990 and authorizes the California Air Resources Board to implement a
plan to achieve that goal by 2020. <font color="#FF0000">The law impacts all California
large and small businesses and households. Such impacts include, but
are not limited to, impacts on jobs, output, personal income, business
profits, and consumption and investment spending. It is considered the
single most wide-spreading law to be adopted in decades.</font> The CHCC
monitors the progress of the implementation plan and provides testimony
to the state as necessary protect the interests of its membership. </p>
<h2>Federal Issues</h2>
<h3>Immigration </h3>
<p>CHCC supports efforts to enact comprehensive reform of immigration
laws, but believes any reforms must take place at the federal level
rather than individual state actions. Hispanic-owned businesses
annually contribute more than $58 billion to California’s economy. To
protect our economy and California’s small businesses, we must continue
to allow participation of an immigrant workforce.
</p><p>==</p><p>fla solar 2 bs initiative</p><p>---
http://www.fshcc.com/fshcc-programs-balance-energy
clean coal
<span id="hs_cos_wrapper_module_141397082010112028" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_widget hs_cos_wrapper_type_rich_text" style="" data-hs-cos-general-type="widget" data-hs-cos-type="rich_text">As
a peninsula, Florida is unfortunately more exposed and susceptible to
natural and manmade disasters. Over reliance on any one energy source
could lead to disastrous situations. Over half of Florida’s electricity
is generated by natural gas. There is a need for the state to explore
alternative energy sources that enhance reliability and ensure access to
affordable energy. <b>Clean coal, nuclear,</b> and cost-effective energy
efficiency are readily available alternatives that can provide for
enhanced reliability and affordability.
By providing a reliable,
affordable, and environmentally compatible source of electricity, clean
coal and nuclear energy keep Florida businesses competitive. Clean
coal and nuclear plants also are engines of local job growth, and keep
businesses operating expenses predictably low for the life of the energy
facility.
<b>Most concerning for our members is that Florida may
be 70% reliant on natural gas by the end of 2020,</b> and our members are
concerned about relying on one fuel that experienced a peak price of
$13.69 per million British thermal units on July 2, 2008. This
overreliance on one fuel could undermine recent growth in our economy
and burden Florida families with high electricity prices. To combat
this overreliance, BEF suggests Florida policymakers embrace
alternatives to natural gas that promote and achieve reliable and
affordable electricity.</span>
</p><p>
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