Looking At Texas For CA Jobs

Katy Grimes: Apparently California lawmakers need to feel more shame before dealing with the real crisis we are living with.

A delegation of California legislators and business leaders are going to be making a trip to Texas next week to find out why the Lone Star state is attracting business, while California just seems to continually kill it, or chase our businesses into the open arms of other states.

Texas should be thanking us. But instead, legislators will be getting a lesson in economics.

We really already know the answer, but the bi-partisan group is going to be digging deeper for the details while talking to Texas lawmakers for tips and hints.

California is a beautiful state in which to live – we’ve got that going for us compared to most of Texas. I’ve driven across the land of ten-gallon hats; it’s interesting, and parts are undeniably beautiful, in that desert sort of way. But I admit to having a California bias.

However, where California cannot compete is with climate – the Texas climate is so much better than California’s – the business climate, that is. “From 2008 to 2010, Texas added more than 165,000 jobs. During that same time period, California lost 1.2 million jobs,” said Assemblyman Dan Logue (R-Linda) at a press conference today.

The legislators and business leaders making the trip will be meeting with Texas Governor Rick Perry, as well as members of the Texas Legislature, seeking answers to how Texas continues growing jobs while California is killing them. The trip may appear symbolic, but the results will be unavoidable. California’s job loss, high unemployment and business-killing legislation badly needs some PR and pressure placed on lawmakers.

Scheduled for the trip is Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway (R-Tulare), Assemblymembers Cathleen Galgiani (D- Livingston), Martin Garrick (R-Carlsbad), Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), Diane Harkey (R-Dana Point), Brian Jones (R- Santee), Steve Knight (R-Antelope Valley), Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga), Donald Wagner (R-Irvine) and Senator Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad).

I just hope that entitlement-loving lawmakers in California start listening. Anyone can read a bill, and can very easily explain how and why California continues killing businesses – entitlements, regulations, high taxes, corporate welfare, subsidies and overspending.

APRIL 6, 2011