As Congress Considers PRO Act, Members Should Look to California’s Prop. 22 As Example of Broad Support for Protecting Independent, Flexible Work
As the House heads to a vote on the PRO Act, Members of Congress should not make the same mistake California legislators made when they passed Assembly Bill 5. Immediately after AB-5’s passage, independent workers across industries were quick to speak out against the bill’s incredibly narrow and rigid definition of independent work, causing legislators to carve out significant exceptions to the law for dog walkers, barbers, golf caddies, lawyers, doctors, real estate agents, and others.
Despite this, however, many industries weren’t so lucky and thousands of contractors saw work and earning opportunities disappear. That’s why, in November, California voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 22 to protect independent, app-based workers, preserving hundreds of thousands of jobs in the process and providing those workers with new benefits and protections.
Prop 22 was so popular that 46 of California’s 53 Congressional districts voted in favor of it, many in convincing fashion.
In all, Prop 22 passed in one of our nation’s most progressive states with 59% of the vote, with key areas like Los Angeles, Napa, and Sonoma counties supporting the measure, as well as Orange County, Sacramento, and San Diego. In the home district of AB-5’s most vocal champion, State Senator Lorena Gonzalez, Prop 22 received 60% of the vote.
Voters and workers alike recognize the importance of independent work to a constantly changing and evolving workforce. For that reason, lawmakers need to push back on similar attempts to restrict independent work at the national level, such as the PRO Act. Otherwise, the same problems that faced California’s workers will affect the entire country.
The 46 California Congressional districts where voters supported Prop 22 are as follows:
1st District, represented by Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R) - 65.6%
3rd District, represented by Congressman John Garamendi (D) - 60.8%
4th District, represented by Congressman Tom McClintock (R) - 68%
5th District, represented by Congressman Mike Thompson (D) - 52.7%
6th District, represented by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D) - 58.2%
7th District, represented by Congressman Ami Bera (D) - 65.6%
8th District, represented by Congressman Jay Obernolte (R) - 65.1%
9th District, represented by Congressman Jerry McNerney (D) - 61.6%
10th District, represented by Congressman Josh Harder (D) - 63.6%
11th District, represented by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D) - 52.6%
15th District, represented by Congressman Eric Swalwell (D) - 54.7%
16th District, represented by Congressman Jim Costa (D) - 61.6%
17th District, represented by Congressman Ro Khanna (D) - 52.7%
18th District, represented by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D) - 51.6%
19th District, represented by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D) - 54.4%
20th District, represented by Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D) - 52.2%
21st District, represented by Congressman David Valadao (R) - 62.3%
22nd District, represented by Congressman Devin Nunes (R) - 68.4%
23rd District, represented by Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R) - 68.6%
24th District, represented by Congressman Salud Carbajal (D) - 58.1%
25th District, represented by Congressman Mike Garcia (R) - 64%
26th District, represented by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D) - 58.9%
27th District, represented by Congresswoman Judy Chu (D) - 56.8%
29th District, represented by Congressman Tony Cárdenas (D) - 54.1%
30th District, represented by Congressman Brad Sherman (D) - 55.5%
31st District, represented by Congressman Pete Aguilar (D) - 63.1%
32nd District, represented by Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (D) - 59.2%
33rd District, represented by Congressman Ted Lieu (D) - 56.3%
35th District, represented by Congresswoman Norma Torres (D) - 60.4%
36th District, represented by Congressman Raul Ruiz (D) - 64.4%
38th District, represented by Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (D) - 59.2%
39th District, represented by Congresswoman Young Kim (R) - 64.8%
40th District, represented by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) - 55.5%
41st District, represented by Congressman Mark Takano (D) - 61.4%
42nd District, represented by Congressman Ken Calvert (R) - 68.6%
43rd District, represented by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D) - 56.3%
44th District, represented by Congresswoman Nanette Barragan (D) - 56.5%
45th District, represented by Congresswoman Katie Porter (D) - 66.1%
46th District, represented by Congressman Lou Correa (D) - 59.9%
47th District, represented by Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D) - 59.8%
48th District, represented by Congresswoman Michelle Steel (R) - 68%
49th District, represented by Congressman Mike Levin (D) - 68%
50th District, represented by Congressman Darrell Issa (R) - 70.1%
51st District, represented by Congressman Juan Vargas (D) - 60.2%
52nd District, represented by Congressman Scott Peters (D) - 63.5%
53rd District, represented by Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D) - 60.4%