| 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Join OCBC and BIZPAC Trustees at the 4th Annual Roast and Tribute, honoring Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. Emceed by professional comedian and Hollywood entertainer Bob Zany, the annual event will feature spirited stories from Hutchens’ friends and associates.

Sandra Hutchens is the 12th Orange County Sheriff and the first woman to serve as the county’s top cop.  Her 30 year career includes counterterrorism training in Israel, FBI National Academy training, participation in the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Program at Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. A Southern California native, Sheriff Hutchens was raised in Long Beach, where she graduated from Woodrow Wilson High. Sheriff Hutchens and her husband, Larry Hutchens, are long time residents of Orange County. Larry is a retired assistant police chief for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa
21500 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Map and Directions

Reception: 5:30 p.m.
Program & Dinner: 6:30 p.m.

Individual Ticket: $250  |  Supporter Package: $1,250 (4 tickets)

Sponsorship opportunities are available between $2,500 and $15,000. Contact Leslie Dods, Events Manager, at 949.794.7241 or ldods@ocbc.org. *Please note: Sponsor tables include 8 seats.

Register Online Registration Form Sponsorships Event Flier

BIZPAC supports candidates and ballot measures that promote and protect the public policy agenda of the Orange County Business Council. For more information about BIZPAC please contact Kate Klimow at kklimow@ocbc.org or 949.794.7210.

The committee also discussed the impacts of Proposition 29, California Tobacco Tax for Cancer Research Act. The proposition would increase the tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack, aiming to fund cancer and tobacco-related disease research, smoking reduction programs and maintaining funding levels from the existing tobacco tax. The committee voted in opposition of the proposition, sending the recommendation to OCBC Board of Directors. The proposition would create a nine-member governing committee to administer the funds, with no accountability as to how or where the funds will be spent. The Legislative Analysts’ Office calculates over 100,000 lives could be saved and the tax would generate over $855 million annually, however, there are no conditions outlined requiring to keep that revenue within California, or even the U.S.

California has the 33nd highest tobacco tax in the U.S. with a current tax of 87 cents per pack, with an equivalent tax on other types of tobacco products, which is levied on cigarette distributors who supply cigarettes to retail stores. The additional $1.00 levied by the California Cancer Research Act would make California tobacco taxes the 15th highest in the U.S.

The committee also voted in support of California Forward’s potential November ballot initiative, Government Performance and Accountability Act. The initiative make common-sense improvements to California’s system of budget and governance, bringing state government closer to the people and giving local communities a stronger voice, by:

• Requiring state bills be printed and available no later than 72 hours before a vote is taken
• Requiring the State to establish a two-year budget cycle
• Requiring state budgets to establish measurable goals and outcomes
• Providing flexibility to local governments in order to meet local needs

The measure is consistent with the reform, accountability and transparency principles set forth in Think Long’s “Blueprint to Renew California,” a list of bipartisan recommendations for fixing state government and rebooting California’s future, released in November 2011. The measure also would implement recommendations developed by California Forward through a public stakeholder process that identified best practices and successful community-based programs. For more information contact Kate Klimow, Vice President of Government Affairs.

Since 2003, J.P. Morgan Chase has invested or arranged $6.7 billion of tax equity capital in renewable energy projects. This has led to the development of 67 wind farms representing over 6,500 megawatts which can power close to 1.9 million homes annually, and represents more than 16% of total installed wind power capacity in the United States. J.P. Morgan Chase has also developed 13 solar sites including 12 solar photovoltaic projects and the largest solar energy project built in more than a decade. In 2008, JPMorgan Chase committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 20% by 2012 compared to 2005 and are currently well on our way to achieving that goal through green construction including a renovation of their global corporate headquarters. JPMorgan Chase is undertaking what may be the world’s largest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum renovation of an existing building at its corporate headquarters in New York City where they plan to install tinted windows that reduce heat gain in summer; HVAC systems optimized to run only when necessary; building materials sourced locally whenever possible, high efficiency lighting and much more. JPMorgan Chase is a company aware of the importance of preserving the environment and has consistently improved its operations while promoting a greener lifestyle for workers and consumers alike. For more information contact Katherine Reedy, Director of Communications.

Under the FTA, nearly 95 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products will become duty free within five years of the date the FTA enters into force, and most remaining tariffs would be eliminated within 10 years.

For agricultural products, the FTA will immediately eliminate or phase out tariffs and quotas on a broad range of products. This will increase U.S. agricultural exports to Korea by 50 percent as almost two-thirds of Korea’s agriculture imports from the United States will be duty free upon entry into force.

The FTA will also provide U.S. suppliers with greater access to the Korean government procurement market. In addition to strengthening our economic partnership, the FTA would help to solidify the two countries’ long-standing geostrategic alliance.

As the first U.S. FTA with a North Asian partner, the FTA is a model for trade agreements for the rest of the region, and underscores the U.S. commitment to, and engagement in, the Asia-Pacific region.

Korea’s National Assembly is now considering the U.S.-Korea trade agreement. In addition to legislative approval in Korea, before the agreement can enter into force, each country must be able to demonstrate that it is in compliance with those obligations that will take effect on day one. Following ratification in Korea, the United States will schedule cooperative work with Korea on implementing the Agreement. The length of time necessary to implement trade agreements varies, but the President is committed to bringing this Agreement into force as soon as possible. For more information contact Matt Petteruto.

The Regional Boards approval of the Project clears the way for the California Coastal Commission to consider approval of the final permit necessary before desalination facility construction can start. Poseidon Resources has applied for a Coastal Development Permit and a permit hearing is anticipated later this year.

Over 2,000 jobs will be created during Project construction. Once completed, the seawater desalination project will provide up to 50 million gallons of drinking water per day for Orange County, approximately eight percent of the county’s water supply needs.

The California State Water Resources Control Board is the state’s prevailing regulatory authority on water quality and was created by the legislature in 1967 to protect California’s waters. The Project’s stand-alone operations are regulated under California Water Code (CWC) Section 13142.5(b), which requires new industrial facilities using seawater for processing to use the best available site, design, technology and mitigation feasible to minimize intake and mortality of marine life. In approving the Huntington Beach desalination facility’s temporary stand-alone operation the Santa Ana Regional Board found the Project fully complies with CWC Section 13142.5(b). For more information about the project, log on to www.hbfreshwater.com.

The committee also discussed the impacts of Proposition 29, California Tobacco Tax for Cancer Research Act. The proposition would increase the tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack, aiming to fund cancer and tobacco-related disease research, smoking reduction programs and maintaining funding levels from the existing tobacco tax. The committee voted in opposition of the proposition, sending the recommendation to OCBC Board of Directors. The proposition would create a nine-member governing committee to administer the funds, with no accountability as to how or where the funds will be spent. The Legislative Analysts’ Office calculates over 100,000 lives could be saved and the tax would generate over $855 million annually, however, there are no conditions outlined requiring to keep that revenue within California, or even the U.S.

California has the 33nd highest tobacco tax in the U.S. with a current tax of 87 cents per pack, with an equivalent tax on other types of tobacco products, which is levied on cigarette distributors who supply cigarettes to retail stores. The additional $1.00 levied by the California Cancer Research Act would make California tobacco taxes the 15th highest in the U.S.

The committee also voted in support of California Forward’s potential November ballot initiative, Government Performance and Accountability Act. The initiative make common-sense improvements to California’s system of budget and governance, bringing state government closer to the people and giving local communities a stronger voice, by:

• Requiring state bills be printed and available no later than 72 hours before a vote is taken
• Requiring the State to establish a two-year budget cycle
• Requiring state budgets to establish measurable goals and outcomes
• Providing flexibility to local governments in order to meet local needs

The measure is consistent with the reform, accountability and transparency principles set forth in Think Long’s “Blueprint to Renew California,” a list of bipartisan recommendations for fixing state government and rebooting California’s future, released in November 2011. The measure also would implement recommendations developed by California Forward through a public stakeholder process that identified best practices and successful community-based programs. For more information contact Kate Klimow, Vice President of Government Affairs.

In what is the first step in pushing beyond landmark climate change legislation SB 375, the state’s Attorney General, Kamala Harris, and activists are suing SANDAG, claiming the plan violated the California Environmental Quality ACT (CEQA). These activists are aggressively seeking to divert future transportation funding away from a balanced approach that includes highway maintenance and upgrades, and direct the funds exclusively to transit – forcing all future spending and land use planning into urban centers.

The attack is a direct threat not only to roads and highways – whose crumbling infrastructure we encounter daily – but to travel, commerce, goods movement and the State’s economic recovery and jobs creation.

What is happening in San Diego is a precedent for the rest of the state, including SCAG’s draft RTP/SCS. Investment in goods movement upgrades is critical to keep the region economically competitive with other west coast gateways, especially the Panama Canal. It is not possible to meet the mobility needs of all segments of the populace and support the economy with a transit-only plan that leaves the highway system in disrepair or with poor connectivity. The plan should be based on a balanced, multi-modal system that supports state and federal transportation goals, and state SB 375 goals.For more information contact Kate Klimow, Vice President of Government Affairs.

Several “Make It In America” bills have already become law, cutting taxes and creating loans for small businesses, speeding up the patent process, lowering costs of raw materials, and ending tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas. The House also passed “Make It In America” legislation to support American clean energy firms and invest in job training partnerships.

“Make It In America’s” mission is a good start on reforms that the business community has been aggressively advocating for on the state and federal level for the last few years. Orange County is a great example of how creating a pro-business environment that fosters jobs creation and innovative product development can lead to economic growth and success.For more information contact Kate Klimow, Vice President of Government Affairs.