Calif. Democrats aim to ease business regulations

[The Northerner]

Sacramento -- Democratic lawmakers on Thursday introduced new measures to spur the state's economy that business leaders hailed as the first step for a "new paradigm" in regulation-heavy California.

One of the bills in the package, which will be considered by the Legislature before it adjourns next week, would require new state regulations that have a significant cost to the economy - $50 million or more - to undergo thorough reviews to assess costs and explore potentially less-expensive alternatives.

The most affordable option would have to be given priority, and if a state agency fails to do those things, the proposed regulation could be rejected.

"We are here to put an end, or at least we are here at a strong beginning to put an end to the drumbeat that California is not friendly to business," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento.

Business leaders consistently complain about overly burdensome state regulations that can stifle new development and significantly increase the cost of being located in California as compared with other states. Lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown have focused on job creation and the economy in recent weeks as the state's unemployment rate has climbed to 12 percent.

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