Date for Annual Life Sciences Day Postponed to April 9
Due to an unexpected scheduling conflict, the date for the 2008 California Life Sciences Day at the state Capitol has been changed to Wednesday, April 9.  Join with leaders in biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biomedical research as well as the patients whose lives have been impacted by medical innovation, in Sacramento to build support for the issues that matter most to California's life sciences industry and improvements in public health. Attendees will participate in face-to-face meetings with legislators and state government officials; network at a luncheon featuring a keynote address by Sacramento Bee Public Affairs Columnist Dan Weintraub; and join legislators and their staffs at a closing reception at the historic Sutter Club.  All updated information is available on the event website – www.lifesciencesday.org.  For more information please contact David Burt, CHI legislative director at 858.551.6677 or burt@chi.org.

Assembly Democrats Elect New Leader
Assemblywoman Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) was elected by her colleagues on Thursday as the next speaker of the California Assembly, marking the first time that an African American woman has held the post.  A top lieutenant of outgoing Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), Bass will work alongside Núñez over the next few months before transitioning into her new position.  As speaker, Bass will participate in high-level negotiations and policy discussions as part of the Big 5 alongside the governor, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines (R-Clovis).  She will also be responsible for daily decisions in the Assembly, including naming the chairs and members of committees, setting staff budgets, and deciding which legislative proposals will move through the lower chamber.

Taxes in Spotlight as Governor Grapples with Budget Deficit
At an economic town hall meeting in Los Angeles on Thursday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told business leaders that he supports a recent proposal by nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill to rescind $2.7 billion in tax credits.  Continuing his rhetoric of shared responsibility, the governor discussed closing certain tax “loopholes” to help alleviate the current fiscal crisis.  Following the meeting, Schwarzenegger softened his position in remarks to reporters, saying, “I’m not for the recommendation she made, necessarily,” and that the state should “look at all the ideas that are available and where we can close some of those tax loopholes.”  Democrats favored the possibility of reducing tax credits, while Republicans dismissed the proposals as a ploy to raise taxes.  Two elements of Hill’s plan -- limiting the research and development tax credit and reducing net-operating loss deductions for corporations -- would have a detrimental impact on the life sciences community in California.  CHI will enter into discussions with the administration and relevant policy makers to highlight the importance of these incentives for continued biomedical innovation.

CHI Analyzing Proposals as Bill Introduction Deadline Passes
Lawmakers in the Senate and Assembly rushed to file more than 2,000 legislative proposals for the upcoming year as the constitutional deadline for introducing bills passed last Friday.  CHI is currently in the process of analyzing dozens of proposals that would affect our members in different ways, and entering into discussions with legislators and our membership in order to prioritize legislative objectives for the year.  CHI anticipates working on legislation including, but not limited to: chemical and waste regulation, electronic pedigree, biomedical research, education and workforce development, drug and device pricing and marketing, and tax policy.  For more information on CHI’s legislative objectives or if there is legislation that you would like CHI to engage on, please contact Sandra Pizarro, CHI vice president-state government affairs (pizarro@chi.org) or David Burt, CHI legislative director (burt@chi.org.)

Enrollment Growth at the University of California to Remain Constant
Despite a $332 million budget cut, the University of California announced on Thursday that it would not limit enrollment growth for the upcoming 2008 to 2009 academic year.  “With the strong increase in undergraduate applications this year, we feel it is our obligation to California to continue meeting our commitments under the Master Plan for Higher Education and expand our enrollment capacity as necessary,” UC Provost and CHI Board Member, Wyatt R. Hume said in a prepared statement.  The university’s governing board of regents will discuss the necessary budget cuts at a meeting next month in San Francisco.  It is likely that the university will see an increase in student fees and class sizes, along with a reduction in campus services and research programs.