Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

In 2010, along with my Republican colleagues, I will continue to make job creation and economic recovery the number one priority. In the coming weeks, we plan to introduce and support bills that improve the jobs climate.

As a matter of fact, everything that the Legislature does this year should be viewed from the perspective of its impacts on California jobs – every bill, every budget line-item, and every regulation.

The first action is to stop California jobs from fleeing our state. With a 12.4 percent unemployment rate, translating to 2.25 million Californians out of work, the Legislature needs to stop jobs from leaving the state. Republican Legislators will continue to stand united in 2010 in opposition to tax increases and job killer bills.

Next, we must restore California's Competitive Job Creation Climate.

For decades, California was a leader and innovator in job creation and economic growth, due largely to its highly skilled workforce, abundant natural resources, and an entrepreneurial spirit and drive that defined a truly Golden State. All these assets remain unchanged. What has changed, however, is a legislative, regulatory, and legal climate that not only hampers and inhibits growth and opportunity, but virtually assures that California will lag far behind the rest of the nation in emerging from the current economic downturn. Republicans will introduce bills to reduce burdens on job creators, and get government out of the way of the small businesses that fuel California's economic engine.

Let's also cut Government Spending and Bureaucracy in the Budget.

Job losses in California's private sector far outpace those in the public sector. With steeply declining state tax revenues, California needs to continue to cut government spending and bureaucracy. Republicans will seek significant reductions in state government spending, while protecting priorities such as public safety, classroom spending, and other essential functions and services.

Furthermore, we will initiate Regulatory Review and Relief.

Sadly, California's regulatory system is nearly impossible to navigate, resulting in a nightmare of compliance costs that prevent law-abiding businesses from hiring additional employees. This regulatory morass – instead of protecting the consumer and the public health and safety – sends an unmistakable message to businesses within and outside California that the cost of adding new jobs in the state is too high.

Employers who wish to create or expand in California know that the cost of compliance with regulations will likely outweigh the benefits of locating in the state.

Therefore, state leaders need to review all regulations, reform and streamline those that are rational, and eliminate those that harm job creation without providing a genuine public safety benefit. The Republican Caucus will introduce bills to accomplish these goals, and hold hearings across the state with employers and others who have been adversely impacted by out-of-control state regulations.

Finally, we will fight for common sense tort reforms that end frivolous lawsuit abuse, provide real protection for consumers and the public, and ensure the ability to create new jobs.

To read more about job creation in California, here are some interesting editorials and stories:

San Diego Union-Tribune: The ‘jobs' plan that isn't / California Dems indifferent to state's reeling private sector

Fox and Hounds Daily website: Leadership on jobs growth emerging