Tom Talks: Inside Sacramento

During a recent panel discussion with SacTown Talks, Tom Sheehy, Principal and Founder of Sheehy Strategy Group, said that while the Legislature claims to be fighting for small businesses, they are actually doing more harm than good. Case in point: In September 2020, the California Legislature passed SB 1383, which expands the California Family Rights Act. Before SB 1383, businesses with 50 or mor...

California’s Legislature doesn’t understand the costs associated with extended leave bills. When small businesses are required to offer 12 weeks of protected leave, they often have to hold positions open, eliminate positions, or raise prices to cover their costs. Ashley Hoffman, Policy Advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce, and fellow SacTown Talks panelist, says that some small business...

In our ongoing explainer video series , the Sheehy Strategy Group unravels the significant roles played by California's key governmental agencies. Our latest video delves into the Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO), an essential nonpartisan agency that provides objective fiscal and policy analysis to the State Legislature. Operating independently and free from political affiliations, the L...

In our new explainer series, the Sheehy Strategy Group delves into the essential functions of California's governmental bodies. This episode takes a closer look at the California Department of Finance (DOF), where SSG Principal and Founder Tom Sheehy served as Chief Deputy Director. This state agency is pivotal in shaping California's fiscal landscape, offering insights into budget develop...

When Tom Sheehy, Principal and Founder of Sheehy Strategy Group, thinks about single-payer healthcare, the first thing that comes to mind is the “DMV.” Imagine the same government that’s in charge of the DMV being in control of your healthcare. If the government takes control, businesses that provide private healthcare would be forced to shut down. Many people would lose their jobs and health prov...

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms have permanently changed how political advocacy gets done in California and around the nation. If you are going to influence the California Legislature, you better be active on Twitter and have your issues properly framed for that platform. Today, social media accelerates reactions by elected officials and regulators to critica...

In a new video released by the Sheehy Strategy Group, Tom Sheehy provides a sobering overview of key business legislation that emerged from the recently concluded first year of California's two-year legislative session. As Sheehy points out, the session witnessed the introduction of a staggering 3,030 bills, and many of these proposals, if enacted, would impose financial burdens on taxpayers a...

The Sheehy Strategy Group is a leading government relations, lobbying, and public strategy firm based in Sacramento, California. Led by Tom Sheehy, a highly experienced and influential lobbyist, the firm excels in achieving effective public policy and regulatory outcomes. Leveraging the power of social media, they frame public opinion and influence legislative issues. With unmatched expertise in g...

For the Sheehy Strategy Group, navigating the complex state and local government procurement process and requirements is second nature. We help structure our client’s procurement business using California's Small Business (SB) and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) designations where appropriate giving our clients the state’s preferred status and access to more government contract opp...

Tom Sheehy testifies before a U.S. Commission on Civil Rights advisory panel regarding the civil rights implications of California’s #AB5 legislation. Other panelists included AB 5 author Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, and Assemblyman Kevin Kiley. The Sheehy Strategy Group is a full-service government relations, lobbying and public strategy firm with unparal...

Tom Sheehy, principal and founder of Sheehy Strategy Group, in testimony before the California Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights warned against the dangers of overzealous regulatory enforcement agencies like the Employment Development Department (EDD). EDD is known in some cases to be extremely aggressive and overbearing in how it interprets the law especially as it relates...

By Tom Sheehy Ever since California became a state 173 years ago in 1850, every time there was a census taken the population of this great state grew larger. Indeed, for most of the 20th and 21st centuries, California led all states in the country in population growth. The state’s economy has grown to $3.6 trillion, placing it in the top five largest in the world. However, California’s population...

By Tom Sheehy AB 764—legislation recently introduced by Los Angeles Assemblyman Isaac Bryan with the aim of enhancing transparency and accountability—has reignited the discourse surrounding California's redistricting procedures for local government entities. Former Assemblyman Bonta, who now serves as the Attorney General, originally introduced the Fair Maps Act in 2019. The Fair Maps Act is a...

By Tom Sheehy California is now starting to approach about a $40 billion budget deficit. Of course, it's unfortunate but true that revenue forecasters are usually behind the curve when we're going into a recession, which means that a $40 billion budget deficit may be the best-case scenario. The number could grow considerably more, perhaps as high as $50 billion if we do go into a recession...

By Tom Sheehy On Friday, May 12, 2023, Governor Newsom released his revision to the state budget he first unveiled in January. When Governor Newsom provided his budget to the Legislature in January, it was intended to solve a $21.5 billion budget deficit. The deficit was a shock following last year when the Governor was touting a budget surplus of almost $100 billion. The reality is that the surpl...