Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  •  

Capitol Roundup: Smart Phone, Corporate CEO, Community College Bills

  •  Ben Adler 
  •  Max Pringle 
Thursday, April 24, 2014 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
  

Bill To Tackle CEO To Worker Pay Gap Clears Committee

Max Pringle / Capital Public Radio

Under a bill that cleared a California legislative committee Thursday, companies with lower CEO-to-average-worker pay ratios would get a state tax break. Capital Public Radio’s Max Pringle reports.

Under the bill, companies with CEO-to-worker pay ratios greater than 100 to one would pay higher corporate taxes. Companies with smaller gaps would pay lower taxes. The ratio now is 350 to one. The AFL-CIO says 30 years ago, the ratio was 40 to 1. Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich says income inequality damages the economy.

“Customers create jobs. The more money that the middle class has – that’s average working people – the more they’re going to spend and that means more jobs.”

Gina Rodriguez with the California Taxpayers Association says raising corporate taxes would cost jobs.

“The biggest thing to do to help the economy, in our opion on the tax side of things, is to help it grow. And to help it grow we need to keep taxes down not increase them.”

The bill’s next stop is the Senate Appropriations Committee.

 

Smart Phone "Kill Switch" Bill Stalls in Senate

Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

A hard-fought battle between California law enforcement groups and smart phone manufacturers and carriers has ended in a victory for the tech groups – at least for now.

Democratic state Senator Mark Leno’s bill that would require all smart phones and tablets sold in California to be manufactured with a “kill switch” fell two votes short of Senate approval today. A kill switch allows the owner of a device to disable it from afar if it’s been stolen. The measure would fine companies that violate the law.

Opponents argued that the California tech industry would take an economic hit from having to manufacture separate devices for in-state and out-of-state consumers. But manufacturers are promising to allow Americans to “opt-in” to having kill switches on their devices after July of next year.

Leno plans to bring the bill back for a second and final try on the Senate floor in the next few weeks.

“That’s the purpose of the bill – to deter the crime; that the criminal knows that this is not worth his time or his effort or his risk, because the phones will not have value.”

 

Four-Year Community College Degree Pilot Moves Forward

Max Pringle / Capital Public Radio
 

A bill that would allow some California community colleges to offer four year degrees has passed the State Senate Education Committee. The change would apply to areas that have a shortage of workers with specific technical skills.

Senator Marty Block says fields like automotive technology, veterinary technology and some areas of health care are becoming too technical for two-year certificates. But he says four-year colleges aren’t offering degrees in those areas.

“So my bill would be permissive," says Block. "It allows the community colleges, if they choose, to offer four year degrees in these fields that don’t duplicate anything offered by the CSU or UC.”

The bill would be a pilot program starting next year and ending in 2023.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Little Hoover Commission

    Capitol Roundup: Underground Economy, Selma Remembrance

    Monday, March 9, 2015
    A new report says California’s weak penalties and scattered, underfunded enforcement system cost the state up to $10 billion a year in lost tax revenue from the underground economy. Meanwhile, California lawmakers join in the Selma remembrances.

 capitol

Ben Adler

Director of Programming and Audience Development

Director of Programming and Audience Development Ben Adler first became a public radio listener in the car on his way to preschool — though not necessarily by choice.  Read Full Bio 

Max Pringle

State Government Reporter

Max covers the state capital, bringing more than a decade of experience in print and public radio, including reporting for KPFA, KQED and KALW. He traces his news roots to working on his his high school newspaper.   Read Full Bio 

 @Maxbp Email Max Pringle

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

California unemployment program too focused on fraud, failed to timely provide hundreds of millions of dollars, report finds

August 8, 2022

Damian Dovarganes / AP Photo

Fast food workers could get collective bargaining, better workplace standards under new legislation

August 9, 2022

Most Viewed

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: LA County moves out of high COVID-19 infection tier

Standard or daylight saving time? California changes its plans again after Congressional resolution.

Parties, stolen cars, a gun: 9 police complaints at Council member Sean Loloee’s disputed North Sacramento residence

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: LA County moves out of high COVID-19 infection tier

Standard or daylight saving time? California changes its plans again after Congressional resolution.

Parties, stolen cars, a gun: 9 police complaints at Council member Sean Loloee’s disputed North Sacramento residence

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.