Huntington Beach, CA – Michelle Steel, Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman and Republican candidate for CA-48, today called on Governor Gavin Newsom to halt plans to spend $20 million on enforcement of AB5 and put those funds toward recovery efforts from COVID-19.
“AB5 was driving jobs out of California before the pandemic. Now it’s even worse – setting aside $20 million for enforcement of this jobs-killing legislation when it could be used to aide our recovery effort makes zero sense,” Steel said.
Steel has called for the suspension of AB5.
“In Orange County we are doing everything in our power to help get people working again, and now the state wants to use taxpayer dollars to levy fines on these very same individuals and companies who are trying to claw their way out from the pandemic,” Steel added. “Sacramento should be trying to help our small businesses and independent contractors, not hold them down.”
Despite its devastating effects on California’s job market, Harley Rouda supported a federalized version of AB5 in Washington.