Originally posted by Hortlund
Of cource the economy is the fault of the gvt and the dems.
Look at it...California has the highest minimum wage, utility rates, worker's compensation premiums, overtime restrictions, air quality requirements, and sales tax in the US.
Actually the highest minimum wage in the nation is in (drum roll please.......) Ripsnorts own Washington State!!! $6.90
http://www.awb.org/policy/2002lo/MinimumWage.htmlIn the public sector, every government agency is facing big job cuts because of the budget mess. Meanwhile, in the private sector, jobs are being lost left and right. And there is nothing strange with that, because given a choise, why would any sane company want to open a business in a state with such a punishing environment for private workers? Where would any corporate CEO look first when seeking to close plants due to high costs?
You have a point here. However Gray Davis didn't start nor is he responsible for the huge increase in workmans compensation costs in this State. Our litigious society did that.
You have to create the wealth first before you bicker about sharing it. The Democrats frequently forget this inconvenient little detail.
The Democrats control 60% of the California Assembly and 60% of the Senate. They also hold all eight state elected offices. They've dominated the legislature forever, and have held the Governer's mansion for 5 years. In that time they have so botched the economy that sales tax revenue in San Francisco has fallen 50% in two years.
The economy wasn't botched by the Democrats, it was botched by war, and energy costs, and the dot com collapse and a poor stock performance.
I'll repeat. California has the highest level of sales tax, the highest minimum wage, the most restrictive overtime rules, the highest electric rates, the largest budget deficit, the worst bond rating, and the highest worker's compensation premiums in the US. At some companies, worker's comp exceeds payroll as an expense. Talk about encouraging layoffs and discouraging employment.
If you're a business owner, what part of this is good news? How would this encourage you to expand your business? And without business expansion, how are tax revenues generated? How is unemployment brought down?
(California is a bit like Sweden in the way they are committing economical suicide) [/B]
Sales taxes - California at 7.90% ranks 6th behind
1. Tennessee 9.35%
2. Louisiana 8.45%
3. Washington 8.30%
4. New York 7.95%
5. Oklahoma 7.95%
Minimum wage we've already covered.
Overtime rules are the same as a huge mafority of the States. Overtime for work over 8 hours in a day or over 40 hours in a week. We can also work 4 x 10hour schedules if necessary without paying OT.
The highest electric rates in the country are in NYC.
Please try to stick to the facts next time.