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    Empower California's Unemployed to Start Their Own Business

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    To: The Honorable Edmund G. Brown Jr., Governor of the State of California and The California State Legislature

    RE: Bring a Self-Employment Assistance program to California. Pass AB 152.

    California's unemployment rate is higher than the national average. Add to that our long-term unemployment problem - 44.5% of the unemployed haven't had a job for more than 26 weeks, that's more than double from December...

    …

    RE: Bring a Self-Employment Assistance program to California. Pass AB 152.

    California's unemployment rate is higher than the national average. Add to that our long-term unemployment problem - 44.5% of the unemployed haven't had a job for more than 26 weeks, that's more than double from December 2005.


    Existing companies are not creating enough jobs.

    Self-employment must be part of any economic recovery plan for California.

    Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Labor has a program - Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) Program - in which unemployed workers will be able to maintain their unemployment insurance benefits while they start their own small businesses – a full-time job in its own right – without having to look for other full-time work.



    The DOL set aside $5.3 million for California to cover administration of the program and training for budding entrepreneurs. We have to ask for it by June 30, 2013 by passing a bill. 

    We the undersigned want you to stand with us by passing a bill that enables California to apply for this federal funding and create a SEA program so that unemployed people can create their own job and be their own boss!

    This petition closed on March 19, 2013.

    Stay informed about this campaign. Join Now.

    2,000

    751 people signed a petition

    Consider Andrea M. (real person, not real name for fear of losing benefits) from Sacramento who called the CAMEO office. She was laid off from her job at a telecommunications company. Fortunately, Andrea had been moonlighting as a small business owner of her website design company. Instead of waiting for a corporate job to open and be hired, she intends to create her own job and run her business full-time. Her goal is to create her own income and get off unemployment. She also hopes to expand her business so that she can hire other people who can't find jobs.

    Do you know someone like Andrea who is unemployed, but has an idea for a business, but might be afraid to start one because s/he doesn't want to lose benefits? Or someone who operates under the table, looking over their shoulder or could expand and really take off, if only the business could be legit?

    A Self-Employment Assistance (SEA) Program would allow unemployed workers to maintain their unemployment insurance benefits while they start their own small businesses. Join CAMEO in our efforts to bring SEA program to California.

    This is a great opportunity for our state to help unemployed people create their own job by starting their own business!

    Learn More:

    For long-term unemployment information:
    http://www.calmis.ca.gov/SpecialReports/CA-LMI-trends-Jan-2012-report.pdf

    "Cumulative job losses in California today are much worse than those experienced at any point of any downturn since the Great Depression." http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/research/A_Depressive_State.pdf

    Issues: , , , , ,

    1. Update #11

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Mar 6

      The first step in the California legislative process is on March 20.  It will be heard by the California Assembly Insurance Committee! 

    2. Update #10

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Feb 5

      Hi Everyone,

      Sorry the campaign has been quiet - we've been busy trying to get a bill introduced and guess what...we have a bill!  AB 152 was introduced by Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada (D-Davis).  Our first hurdle is to get it out of the California State Assembly Insurance Committee.  The hearing will be in March.

      We could use more petition signers in California, so if you live in California or know someone in California have them sign the petition.  Also, if you live in one of the districts...

      …

      Hi Everyone,

      Sorry the campaign has been quiet - we've been busy trying to get a bill introduced and guess what...we have a bill!  AB 152 was introduced by Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada (D-Davis).  Our first hurdle is to get it out of the California State Assembly Insurance Committee.  The hearing will be in March.

      We could use more petition signers in California, so if you live in California or know someone in California have them sign the petition.  Also, if you live in one of the districts of someone on the Insurance Committee give them a call and say I support AB 152.  It should only take a minute.

      Thanks!
      CAMEO



    3. Update #9

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Oct 30, 2012

      Washington State has a SEA Program - help us bring one to California!
      http://www.examiner.com/article/unemployment-benefits-available-to-aspiring-entrepreneurs

    4. Update #8

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Oct 26, 2012

      With the unemployment rate for female vets more than double than that of their male counterparts in September alone, many are seeking self-employment as an alternative.
      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/women-vets-self-employed_n_2012299.html

    5. Update #7

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Oct 25, 2012

      Another blog post on the SEA program - this one from Women Impacting Public Policy
      http://blog.wipp.org/2012/10/be-your-own-boss-states-can-he/

    6. Update #6

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Oct 23, 2012

      Thanks to Women Impacting Public Policy for making the case!
      http://blog.wipp.org/2012/10/be-your-own-boss-states-can-he/

    7. Update #5

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Oct 10, 2012

      Great example of the unemployed becoming their own boss.

      After losing her job as an environmental consultant for a large environmental planning firm, Gulsum Rustemoglu decided to become her own boss and founded Global Environmental Permitting (GEPermit) in July 2009.
      Read more:
      http://accionsd.blogspot.com/2012/10/gepermit-navigating-environmental.html

    8. Update #4

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Oct 5, 2012

      Today's relevant piece of news about moving toward a self-employed economy.
      http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/business/entrepreneurs-starting-up-with-fewer-employees.html

    9. Update #3

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Oct 3, 2012

      Our office got a call today from an unemployed man who wants to open a vending machine business in Kern county. He needs some business training to learn how to run his business successfully so that he can apply for a loan. But he's got to spend his time looking for a job with another company. If the SEA program was in place, he'd be able to work full-time on starting his business. Go SEA.

    10. Update #2

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Sep 7, 2012

      August's unemployment rate is 8.1 percent. About 40 percent of those who are unemployed have been jobless for more than 27 weeks – that's 5 million people. We need new options for the large number of people who can't find a job and have been employed for over half a year. One option is to help the unemployed with entrepreneurial potential to start their own small business. Which is why a SEA program is necessary.

      Help us spread the word by sharing this with your friends.

      Thanks,
      Claudia

    11. Update #1

      Posted by Cameo Claudia Viek (Campaign Leader) on Sep 5, 2012

      New report about self-employment trend... guess what, it's up from last year

      "The 2nd Annual MBO Partners State of Independence in America workforce study shows continued growth in America's commitment to independent work. Since the launch of the first-ever baseline study of independent work in America in 2011, nearly 17 million workers – up from 16 million last year – report in for independent work. They're increasingly satisfied with their work style and coping even better than before...

      …

      New report about self-employment trend... guess what, it's up from last year

      "The 2nd Annual MBO Partners State of Independence in America workforce study shows continued growth in America's commitment to independent work. Since the launch of the first-ever baseline study of independent work in America in 2011, nearly 17 million workers – up from 16 million last year – report in for independent work. They're increasingly satisfied with their work style and coping even better than before with the challenges that come with this less charted territory. And, consistent with the results of last year's inaugural report, independents show an even stronger preference for this path and have no plans of turning back."
      http://www.mbopartners.com/state-of-independence/docs/2012-MBO_Partners_State_of_Independence_Report.pdf

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