Governor Threatens to Stall Legislative Process Until Budget Resolved
Trying to leverage pressure on a budget stalemate, Gov. Schwarzenegger vowed on Wednesday to veto any legislation sent to him until the Legislature passes a state spending plan.  The announcement comes on the heels of an executive order last week to lay off more than 10,000 part-time or temporary state employees and slash wages for about 180,000 state workers.  The latest move will likely have little practical effect as lawmakers know there are ways to avoid the threat.  The governor announced that he would veto bills before they become law after 12 days without his signature.  However, legislators can simply withhold bills until Aug. 18, the start of a six-week window in which the 12-day rule does not apply, buying them cover from a veto until Sept. 30.  Early this week the governor broke from his party and proposed a one-cent sales tax in exchange for a long-term change in the budget process.  While Democrats seemed favorable toward the plan, Republicans want to cap spending and have even suggested that borrowing is a better solution than raising taxes.

Chemical Testing Bill Removed from Further Consideration This Year
On Thursday, Aug. 7, AB 558, authored by Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) was held on the Senate Appropriations Suspense File, removing it from further consideration this year.  AB 558 would enact the California Chemical Substances Act, which would require the Department of Toxic Substances Control, in consultation with the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, to identify and recommend the most accurate and effective methods to use to test for and evaluate the potential hazard traits of chemicals.  CHI expressed concerns to the author that the bill, while well-intended, was overly broad in scope and had the potential to produce information that could have easily been misinterpreted by the public.  CHI is in the process of establishing an Environmental Working Group, consisting of experts from within the CHI membership, to address environmental and chemical issues as we anticipate seeing a continued focus by legislators in this space.  To participate in the group, contact David Burt, CHI’s legislative director (858-551-6677 or burt@chi.org).

California Medical Technology Showcase: An Exhibition of Technologies Improving Healthcare and Lowering Costs
On Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., California’s leading medical device and diagnostics companies will gather in Sacramento on the North Lawn at the Capitol to showcase innovative technologies that are improving healthcare and cutting costs.  Recent proposals in the Legislature have the potential to impact medical technology firms’ business practices and patients’ access to life-enhancing and life-saving technologies.  It is critical that medical technology industry leaders build strong relationships with legislators and staff to help them understand the benefits we bring to the California economy and public health.  Exhibitors: AdvaMed; Baxter; Bayer HealthCare; Beckman Coulter, Inc.; Boston Scientific Corporation; California Healthcare Institute; Covidien; Edwards Lifesciences; Gen-Probe, Incorporated; Johnson & Johnson; Medtronic, Inc.; Thoratec; Zimmer Holdings, Inc. For information please contact Tom Tremble, with AdvaMed (ttremble@advamed.org or 202-434-7216) or Sandra Pizarro, with CHI (pizarro@chi.org or 916-233-3497).