RESCHEDULED: Coffee with California State Controller, John Chiang

This event has been cancelled. Rescheduling details soon to come.

The National City Chamber of Commerce welcomes John Chiang, California State Controller to National City.

 Join us for coffee in a dialogue with one of California’s most influential leaders. This is a special event and space is limited. RSVP is required.

Visit the State Controller’s office to learn more about Mr. Chiang and his top priorities. http://www.sco.ca.gov/

 As the State’s chief fiscal officer, Chiang has fought to make the State’s finances more transparent and accountable to the public, and to weed out waste, fraud and abuse of public funds. Chiang has led efforts to reform the State’s public pension systems, helped local governments navigate difficult economic times, protected California’s precious natural resources, reunited owners with more than $1 billion in unclaimed property, and launched financial and tax assistance seminars for California’s working families, seniors, small businesses and non-profit organizations

 PROTECTING PUBLIC DOLLARS
As the State’s chief independent fiscal watchdog, Chiang provides sound fiscal control over more than $100 billion of public funds. In three years, he has aggressively used his auditing authority to identify $1.8 billion in taxpayer dollars that were denied, overpaid, subject to collection, or resulted in revenues, savings and cost avoidance. Read more.

KEEPING THE STATE FROM GOING OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF
As Controller during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, Chiang was forced to delay payments and issue IOUs in order to preserve cash to meet obligations to education and bond holders.  His cash management was cited as instrumental in keeping the State’s credit rating from plunging into junk status, which saved taxpayers millions of dollars.  Read more.

REFORMING PUBLIC PENSION PLANS
To ensure the fiscal solvency of the State’s pension plans, Chiang has been a leader in pension and corporate governance reform.  He successfully sponsored legislation requiring all state pension systems to adopt disclosure policies regarding board members and placement agents. He has also sponsored bills to curb pension-spiking, require placement agents to register as lobbyists, and require CalPERS and CalSTRS board members to file more campaign contribution disclosure reports.  Read more.

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
Controller Chiang is committed to safeguarding California’s vast and precious natural resources. He has joined with institutional investors managing $4 trillion in assets to call on federal lawmakers to enact a national standard to address global warming. A State Lands Commission member (and chairman during even years), he has opposed new offshore oil leases and is committed to preserving the State’s 1,100 miles of coastline.  Read more.

RETURNING UNCLAIMED PROPERTY TO RIGHTFUL OWNERS
As Controller, Chiang led the effort on reforming the State’s 50-year-old Unclaimed Property Program, which currently holds $5.7 billion in bank accounts, utility deposits and other property that businesses have deemed abandoned by their owners.  In three years, he returned more money than was returned in the previous five years. Read more.

REFORMING CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Controller Chiang serves on 78 boards and commissions, including two of the nation’s largest public pension funds.  At both CalPERS and CalSTRS, Chiang has championed the disclosure of environmental risks and increasing diversity on corporate boards as ways to strengthen the public pension plans’ investments. Read more.

HELPING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SMALL BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS, SENIORS AND WORKING FAMILIES
During these tough economic times, Controller Chiang understands the difficulties facing local governments, businesses and families. He created an unprecedented assistance program to provide local officials, small businesses and non-profits with the tools and guidance they need to protect their funds while complying with state business and tax laws and regulations. To ensure working families and seniors get all tax credits they have earned, the Controller’s staff has coordinated volunteer efforts to assist more than 2,500 low- and moderate-income families and individuals with their income tax filing preparation, helping them qualify for nearly $3.8 million in refunds and tax credits. Read more.