Businesses Feel a Chill In California Climate

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Monday, October 28, 2002 | REBECCA BUCKMAN and RHONDA L. RUNDLE

[TroutStalker]

REDONDO BEACH, CALIF. -- If the polls are accurate, California Gov. Gray Davis seems destined to again occupy the state house -- a prospect that is depressing the spirits of many California business executives.

Soaring electricity costs, sky-high housing prices, escalating workers-compensation costs and a host of other regulations have made doing business in California increasingly tough. So much so that when Development Counsellors International, an economic-development marketing firm, asked executives across the nation recently to name three states with the least favorable business climate, more named California than any other state, by a wide margin.

[TroutStalker]

Here you go.

[kellynla]

Thanks for posting. We have everything packed. If the Dimwit is reelected the big spenders in Sacramento will have to collect the taxes from the Malibu crowd to pay for their programs because yours truly is outahere!

[null and void]

A CHILL?!?!

I can see an onrushing glacier from my front door...

[skeeter]

Seems to me these 'chief executives' had a chance to support Simon's campaign but didn't. Whose fault is that?

[Txslady]

Thanks!!! :o)) I thought it was an great article!

[Txslady]

I work for a General Contractor (commercial-construction) here in Texas-- You wouldn't believe the business we are getting from CA!

[Free the USA]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[AD from SpringBay]

Maybe all businesses should leave California - giving the socialists not a classless society, but a taxbaseless society; thereby the government would starve and that state could begin again - shouldn't take longer than 10 years.

[TroutStalker]

My wife works in HR for a Fortune 500 company. They have a separate HR group in Kali because it is so unlike the rest of the country's laws and regulations. The operations located there will not be expanded. Salaries there are way out of line with everywhere else, because of the high cost of living. The cost of doing business there is the highest in the country because of all the regulations they are saddled with.

[OldPossum]

This is not germane to the thrust of the article but to the note within it about the failed Simon campaign. This should be a lesson for the Republican Party to make a more determined effort to put forth effective candidates for such major offices. Clearly, Simon is a neophyte who, while undoubtedly a good man, simply did not have the political experience to undertake such a challenge.

Damn it! The Republicans just blew it.

[sheik yerbouty]

Is there no way to rid ourselves of these Caliban thieves?

[ServesURight]

Seems to me these 'chief executives' had a chance to support Simon's campaign but didn't. Whose fault is that?

It was Simon's fault for not actively courting them. His bumbling and mishaps only made the business community more skeptical.

Chief Executives aren't going to throw their support at anyone, you know.

[TroutStalker]

Unfortunately, after they have trashed Kali, they relocate (escape) to another state, bringing their destructive policies with them. Las Vegas, Oregon and Washington are well on their way to becoming "Californicated".

[NilesJo]

"Damn it! The Republicans just blew it."

Unfortunately you are quite correct. If there was EVER a contest that the Republicans would have to work at to lose, the 2002 CA governorship is it. Most people see Davis as an arrogant, corrupt, insincere, special-interest-owned SOB and merely wanted a reasonable alternative.

Having said that I will still be out in my precinct pounding the pavement encouraging a vote for Simon who is a decent guy who ran a weak campaign.

[Txslady]

I did a Construction Management job in CA several years ago. YES, you are right about the cost of living being very high! The cost of construction if very high as well- with all the regulations (earth quakes, ... etc.) Now they are going to run businesses out of CA because they (Davis Dems.) keep sticking it to the Business community.

This is not good news for the CA people who don't deserve what Davis has done to them.

I have to note that when I was there... I found it strange watching TV stars and Movie stars talking political stuff on local TV news stations... it took my glamorous view of them away from me at that point… or maybe I just realized that they were just Rich folks with strange opinions.

[skeeter]

Chief Executives aren't going to throw their support at anyone, you know.

Maybe not, but I would've hoped they be smarter than to be coy when their companies interests are at stake.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Click here to download the California Republican Liberty Caucus' tri-fold pamphlet on the governor's race!

It's a .pdf file, so you'll need Acrobat Reader... it's free, and chances are good you already have it on your computer. Try the link and see.

Print it using the printer-icon button in the Acrobat toolbar in your browser (not File|Print in your browser's menu). It's intended for double-sided printing using single pieces of paper-- no stapling needed if you do it that way, and saves trees! ;-) Print one side, then invert the paper and feed it through a second time for the second side. Fold, and sally forth to get out the vote!

Give this to friends, walk your neighborhood, take it to stores, give a wad of 'em to your school, hand some out at your house of worship, at clubs, at stores and small businesses...

Let's retire Gray Davis!

Let's show the media and RINOs that "It's the base, stupid!"

Let's show Gray Davis that money can't buy him love ...or re-election!

Freepers and RLC activists can claim considerable credit for nominating Bill Simon, so now let's elect him!

[gubamyster]

Development Counsellors International, an economic-development marketing firm, asked executives across the nation recently to name three states with the least favorable business climate, more named California than any other state, by a wide margin.

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

Just out of interest where are you looking to move to? I'm giving Colorado serious thought.

PS: I do like to snowboard. :-)