Still No Agreement on State Budget
As budget meetings continue throughout the week, negotiations have once again fallen into partisan discord.  Since the budget requires a two-thirds vote, this is one of the few times when the GOP minority wields any power.  Republican lawmakers so far refuse to vote for a plan until spending is brought in line with projected revenues for the upcoming year.  Democrats maintain that they have already reined in spending as much as they can and do not believe that government should forsake cost-of-living increases for social programs.  In May, the Schwarzenegger administration submitted a revised $103.8 billion budget, reflecting an unexpected shortfall in state revenues, with no new taxes and plans for paying down state debt at the expense of cost-of-living adjustments for the poor and disabled proposed in his original budget.

Workplace Chemicals Measure Set for Policy Hearing
On Monday, July 2, Assembly Bill 515, authored by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View), passed out of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.  The measure would require new permissible exposure limits (PEL) to be determined for chemicals used in the workplace and would additionally require the PEL standards to be set as recommended by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).  CHI’s concern is that OEHHA does not receive input from industry in making PEL recommendations and the bill does not set any guidelines for OEHHA to receive industry input.  The bill will go before the Senate Appropriations Committee when the legislature returns from the summer recess on August 20.

CHI’s Annual California Healthcare Policy Forum
Join the membership of the California Healthcare Institute (CHI) for a lively and informative forum on the implications of healthcare reform for life sciences innovation. CHI’s annual California Healthcare Policy Forum will take place Thursday, August 2 at The Salk Institute in La Jolla, California.  With the governor and lawmakers proposing health reform legislation designed to cut costs, improve quality and expand coverage to all Californians, the forum will focus on how healthcare reform will reshape the market for medical innovation and patient access to new therapies and medical technologies.  CHI would like to thank Manatt Healthcare Solutions, Ernst & Young, DLA Piper and the Biotechnology Industry Organization for sponsoring the event.  Register online or contact Callie Robbins (robbins@chi.org or 858-551-6677) for more information.