A series of committee hearings began yesterday in the California Assembly with the stated intention of making “a comprehensive examination of the California Enterprise Zone Program” and other similar tax incentive programs.  Subsequent hearings will take place between now and October 17th.
Assemblymember V. Manuel Pérez, Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, is known to favor California’s enterprise zone program.  In preparation for his committee’s hearings on the subject, Mr. Pérez issued a press release on June 11, 2009 in which he said in part,
“I believe that the EZ program has provided opportunities for community leaders to work with the business sector to promote a more stable employment environment.  I am aware that there are efforts seeking reform of the EZ program.  Given the significance of the program to low income communities that have been hardest hit by this recession, I have called for interim hearings to thoroughly review the issues.”
The Committee has dedicated a web page to the hearings.  Go to the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy (JEDE)website, and click on the “Enterprise Zone” link in the left column of the page.
Commentary:  In my opinion. these committee hearings provide a more balanced and politically stable format for reviewing the California enterprise zone program.  In light of recent attempts to radically undermine the program, the public investigation provided by this committee will temper the political atmosphere and lead to more meaningful improvements to the way the enterprise zone program works in the State of California.