A delegation of State of California officials is headed to the Texas capital
for a fact finding mission to ascertain how to make California more business
friendly. 

State Assemblyman Dan Logue, (R-Marysville) identified to the press and news
media that the trip will include meetings with Gov. Rick Perry as well as with
representatives of businesses that have fled California

In addition to Logue, other elected officials scheduled to make the trip include
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Assembly members Cathleen Galgiani (D-Tracy), Martin Garrick
(R-Carlsbad), Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), Diane Harkey (R-Laguna Nigel), Brian
Jones (R-Santee), Steve Knight (R-Lancaster), Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga),
Donald Wagner (R-Irvine) and Senator Mark Wyland (R-Escondido). Business leaders
joining the trip include Jack Stewart, president of the California Manufacturers
& Technology Association and Carl Guardino, chief executive officer of the Silicon
Valley Leadership Group.

Recall that over a year ago, a group from the legislature made a similar fact finding
mission to Nevada. 

The concept of California being unfriendly to business is directly related to the
regulatory agencies that have been allowed to run free without checks and balances
related to their purpose and intent.  When economic developers intercede good things
happen. For example, a recent article in the San Jose Mercury illustrates how well
California responded in the retention of the solar cell manufacturer AQT solar, see
the following link: http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_17746489?nclick_check=1

Additionally, companies grow expand, decline, merge and get acquired. As examples,
this week, Dell Computers announced that they would be consolidating into a new
research and development facility in Santa Clara. Meanwhile, Texas Instruments
announced the purchase of National Semiconductor. These actions constantly repeat
themselves.  California is so big that it is just magnified here more than in other
markets.  Lastly, if in fact California’s business environment is so poor why did a
recent report by the Kauffman Foundation illustrate California as one of the best
locations for entrepreneurs?  So is this trip nothing more than a boondoggle or
a worthy investment?  You be the judge.


 Tim Johnson
California Business Minute