Posted on 10/12/2009 9:21:51 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
When Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen remarked a half-century ago, “A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon it adds up to real money,” it was said with a sense of irony. I offer this clarification because a billion dollars no longer has the impact that it once had. Now with a former senator from Illinois occupying the White House, the federal government is throwing trillions of dollars around as if it were nickels.
Still, for the average taxpayer, whether it is billion dollars or a trillion dollars, it’s a mind numbing amount. When the Legislature approved $12.6 billion in new taxes last February, public anger didn’t really start to mount until it became clear that this would cost the average family about $1,100 each year. This anger was expressed clearly when in May, voters rejected by two to one an additional $16 in taxes that could have cost families another $1,400 annually.
So when a just released study, sponsored by the state of California, showed that the cost of state regulations on business was $493 billion, the real impact was brought home when the authors concluded that the annual cost per household was $13,801.
Perhaps even more alarming is that these regulations cost the state 3.8 million jobs. At 12.2% unemployment, the highest in almost 70 years, California ranks fourth behind Michigan, Nevada and Road Island. Still, the significance of these numbers is best understood by those who have lost a job or who know someone who has, and this includes most Californians. Most of us are in a position to see the tragic consequences for those out of work, so we understand why the unemployment rate is a major component of what Ronald Reagan called the “Misery Index.”
The California report on the impact of regulations was actually completed a year ago, but its release was held up by the governor’s office. A spokesperson said the delay was so the facts could be checked, but capitol observers are asking if it was withheld because it would have been a public relations nightmare for an administration and Legislature that were seeking massive tax increases at that time. After all, the cost of these regulations amount to a hidden tax, the actual impact of which, few people were aware.
As bad a picture as the state regulations report paints, it does not include the impact of radical measures, passed after the study was commenced, to impose new restrictions on the use of everything from energy to land, in the name of reducing greenhouse gases.
After reviewing the report, it is easy to understand why analysts, including the Washington D.C.-based Tax Foundation, rank California 49th out of 50 as a place to do business. Of course, because of their limited capitalization and lack of political clout, hardest hit by the state’s negative regulatory climate are California’s more than 770, 000 small business employers. Given that these brave men and women constitute 98% of percent of California’s enterprises and provide 52% of the jobs, our policy leaders ought to feel a great deal of shame – although we doubt that they do.
With surrounding states that already impose lower taxes offering incentives for California businesses to relocate, we continue to travel down the road of high taxes and massive regulation at our peril.
Now, no one suggests that California businesses operate without regulations. Regulations are like taxes, a necessary evil. But just as high taxes stifle productivity, so too does massive overregulation that adds significantly to the cost of doing business.
The classic argument for regulation can be made by those who live down stream from a manufacturing plant, who want assurance that toxins are not being dumped into the water supply. But we live in a state where the nannies in the Legislature attempt to control every aspect of our lives; from when children can be spanked, to our diets, to whether or not our pets are to be spayed and neutered, to the material from which our shopping bags are made.
To ask that the Legislature take a sensible approach to regulation is probably a bridge too far. However, it should be mandatory that every regulation proposed include a cost analysis. Just like the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) we require for any major construction project, we should require another EIR – a Economic Impact Report – for every new regulation.
When the public is made aware of the actual cost to families and the impact on employment of every new proposed regulation, lawmakers may be forced to stop regarding regulation as an frivolous exercise without real world consequences.
This was true ten years ago too but it’s only gotten worse.
To Californians, I hope it just gets worse and worse for you. You have it coming.
“OVER REGULATION HURTING ALL CALIFORNIANS”
Who have they voted for years and years now? You get the government you deserve.
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After reviewing the report, it is easy to understand why analysts, including the Washington D.C.-based Tax Foundation, rank California 49th out of 50 as a place to do business. Of course, because of their limited capitalization and lack of political clout, hardest hit by the state’s negative regulatory climate are California’s more than 770, 000 small business employers. Given that these brave men and women constitute 98% of percent of California’s enterprises and provide 52% of the jobs, our policy leaders ought to feel a great deal of shame – although we doubt that they do.
Thanks! We hunkered in here in California fighting the battle all appreciate that . ;-)
Like Patrick Swayze said in the movie “Road House”...
“It’ll get worse before it gets better.”
Calif might be behind Nevada in unemployment, but more and more companies are moving here to Nevada.
Lower costs-—NO state income taxes for corp or individuals.
Lower Workmen’s comp ins.
Lower cost of land/buildings to operate from. Lower cost of homes and property taxes for your employees.
Major highways to move your goods...I-80 and US 395 and US 95.
A new areajust east of Reno, Tahoe Reno Industrial Park, is selling land to interested companies, and they have their own power plant.
Liberalism incarnate, the State running things with their own bellies full and a Marxist agenda of irrational utopian hogwash in their minds...
Illegals, unions, trial lawyers, environmental whackos, lying newspapers and media outlets, Left Wing government...
We are done as soon as I close a few more deals.
I hate this place.
Shouldn’t this be titled:
Over Regulation hurting all AMERICANS.
I am always amazed to hear Obama talk
about the government “creating” jobs.
The government cannot create jobs,
it can however remove obstructions
to the creation of jobs by the private
sector, which is it’s constitutional duty.
LOL!
That’s what I’m here for.
Good luck with that fight!
"A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon, you're talking real money".
"A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon we're talking real money."
Sort of hard to find the precise words on this quote. Kinda like...more than one watch and you don't know what time it is.
Fighting the battle how? With things getting progressively worse year after year, when do you decide the fight is being lost and examine your own tactics. Stop patting yourself on the back for staying and fighting like a martyr. If you won't fight to win, don't flight at all. Your fight amounts to little more than going along. Granted, begrudgingly, but going along non the less
Don't paint with too wide a brush Bert. There are many good conservative people in Ca. affected by their liberal taskmasters. Liberals rule and ruin Ca. for all the true patriot folks living there!
I lived in California for many years and miss the place - big time!
But as far as political activity there, you may just have to live with it. The demographics there absolutely put conservatives at a major disadvantage and with all the illegal immigrants coming in and getting on the publc dole by means of WIC (where the people behind the counter will help you “qualify” for benefits).
What can you do? Right? You gotta take your lumps and like it because California is one of those places where fiscal conservatives can never win. Social conservatives can, to a degree.
Sorry for sounding so flippant in my origial post. It’s harsh, but true. There are times when conservatives have to go underground and stay true to themselves as much as possible.
What the hell do you think a lot of folks are doing here?
Where you from Paul, besides America?
Just curious what state you live in... and like to see what your state unemployment rate is.
BS, cowards run. We in Northern California are as conservative as anyone in the states, we are gerrymandered out of existence thanks to the south voting in Dimwits and people like Arnold. We stay and fight and we fight well, we are simply outnumbered but things are starting to change. It doesn’t help that the cowards of the conservative class ran out on us and continue to flee like the wimps they are.
Exactly. They vote for the same fools who have been running the state into the ground for decades and then turn around and blame Republicans..... Go figure.
Stop patting yourself on the back for staying and fighting like a martyr.
—
and how is your battle going?
That's what I am trying to figure out. Why don't you tell me? Better still, how long do you keep trying what is not working?
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