Coincidentally, three otherwise unrelated events last week framed California’s somewhat clouded economic situation. One was a revelation that the state now is tied with Rhode Island for the nation’s highest unemployment rate, 9.8 percent.
As one of just a few states that impose a sales tax on manufacturing and R&D equipment, California imposes higher equipment costs on its manufacturers, which may drive them out of state, Annette Nellen, a professor at San Jose State University, writes in this week’s issue of the Weekly State Tax Report.
On Monday in the State Capitol, I was joined by business leaders from across California to discuss legislation that will ease the backlog of business filings at the Secretary of State’s office, as well as other legislation to strengthen the Golden State’s economic recovery.
Branstad told KCRA 3 he was meeting with a dozen California companies with operations in Iowa, trying to convince them to relocate, expand or grow in Iowa.
Could this be the beginning of substantive business-friendly reforms around here? We fervently hope so.
Contrary to what you might’ve heard, I have nothing against California. In fact, I think it’s a beautiful state filled with creative people and a vibrant culture.
The siege of the Alamo, which occurred this month 177 years ago, lasted 12 days. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who would have you believe he’s laid siege to California’s business community, was here for only four days this week.
There’s no doubt about it—the competition is fierce. States like Texas and Nevada are openly trying to lure away business from California. The debate about how effective they are is still going. But with a PR push highlighting lower taxes and easier environmental regulations, moving out sounds tempting.
TULARE — Faced with continued low milk prices and high feed costs, California dairy operators are increasingly being wooed by states offering cheaper costs and expanding markets.
Gov. Rick Perry’s latest attempt at luring businesses from California to Texas is a 30-second radio ad where he says, “Building a business in California is next to impossible.”
(Reuters) – Texas Governor Rick Perry’s latest sales pitch to California businesses boils down to four words: Texas is no California.
Gov. Jerry Brown ought to cut his Texas brother, Rick Perry, a little slack. Texas Gov. Perry arrived in the Golden State this week trolling for California businesses he could poach and carry home with him in his saddlebags.
Some are calling it a bold, aggressive action. To me, it’s simply an act of desperation. The governor of Texas has been creating a little media buzz with his latest effort at poaching California businesses. After first buying airtime for a radio spot in a few media markets, he’s now following up with personal visits to businesses in some key California markets, including Orange County.
After years of losing jobs to lower-cost, overseas operations, several Rust Belt states are seeing a resurgence of manufacturing, led surprisingly by Michigan.
Texas doesn’t have redwood forests, a spot on the Pacific, Hollywood or a team in the last Super Bowl or World Series. But it doesn’t have California’s taxes either.