California: It’s Not Like Where You Live
Item #1: California is shocked to discover that people are reluctant to enter a profession in which it is difficult to find work, and if they do, they are first in line to be laid off.
Item #2: Gov. Jerry Brown finds himself without a plan to close the state’s $26.6 billion budget deficit because he and the California Teachers Association can’t peel off a handful of Republicans to vote to place tax increases on the June ballot. Republican legislators have no intentions of fleeing the state, but considering their track record, most of us aren’t sure if that’s a good thing.
Item #3: Despite the aforementioned deficit, Democratic legislators are lining up to resubmit bills that former Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed during his terms in office. Many of these involved increased spending and one would institute union card check for farm workers. The Los Angeles Times appropriately interviewed former Gov. Gray Davis, who faced a similar deluge when he served. And we all remember what happened to him.
Item #4: California has a reputation for not being business-friendly. But the state is very friendly with one particular group of evil, money-grubbing corporations – the motion picture industry:
In recent years, [Los Angeles] has taken acts that cost it more revenue. It has allowed filmmakers to use its facilities for free, slashed business taxes for productions of less than $5 million, and exempted writers and other creative artists from paying business taxes on their first $300,000 of income.
In 2009, in response to generous tax incentives offered by other states, California enacted tax credits of up to 20 percent for feature film productions with budgets under $75 million, and up to 25 percent for television shows and independent films with budgets of up to $10 million. These tax credits have kept some productions from leaving the state.
