PROTECTING JOBS WILL HELP STATE.

Byline: Tony Strickland

RECENTLY the Daily News admirably acknowledged the foundation of a healthy economy, and, therefore, state. The ``Bad for business'' (June 13) editorial framed the biggest issue facing California, a problem that impacts most of us, including myself personally: jobs.

California state government has become the economic development agency for Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and many other states that will gladly take the thousands of jobs the Golden State once enjoyed. The editorial focused on Countrywide Financial Corp. contemplating a departure; many other companies already are gone or are packing as we speak.

This month my brother, a California resident nearly his whole life, will move with his family to Jacksonville, Fla., to retain his job with Fidelity National Title Inc.

In announcing the company's move from Santa Barbara, Fidelity Chairman William Foley cited California's ``oppressive cost of doing business'' as a major reason for the decision.

``Jacksonville actually wants to have us,'' Foley said in the Florida Times-Union. ``California likes having us, but it isn't very concerned about not having us.''

As an assemblyman, a brother, and an uncle, I am extremely concerned about not having Fidelity here. Most Californians care, aside from certain people in power in Sacramento. To name names, Gov. Gray Davis and legislative Democrats refuse to dam the flood of jobs from this state.

Yes, the current state budget impasse is a challenge, and the Legislature must get a new spending plan approved soon. But it's a document to maintain services for a single year. More broadly, protecting and increasing jobs will let the state thrive and grow for years to come.

Addressing job losses is as important, perhaps the most important thing we can do to help our budget crisis. Budget and long-term economic development discussions must occur simultaneously.

And right now they can.

The Daily News mentioned a need to fix the state's broken workers' compensation system. I understand the major impact to employers. That's why I sent a letter to Gov. Davis on April 3, from the Legislature Joint Republican Caucus, requesting a special session of the Legislature devoted solely to urgently needed workers' comp reforms. We must focus immediately on this single issue and its countless problems, including unrestrained medical costs, excessive litigation, waste, abuse and fraud.

Three months have passed, and Davis has not acted on our request. Undeterred, Assembly Republicans this week unveiled a comprehensive workers' comp reform bill. Assembly Bill 1579 contains a series of critical reform measures, including controls on skyrocketing costs, and is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee on Tuesday.

Some of the bill's key measures were killed by Assembly Democrats earlier this year. While touring the state at the end of June, many Democrats publicly bemoaned workers' compensation system troubles. Now, with AB 1579,they can back their words and take action.

The Daily News noted ``bad policies in Sacramento are driving desperately needed jobs and tax revenues out of the state.''

There's not enough newspaper space to list all the bad policies, so let's touch upon taxes. This entire year we have suffered a recession, yet during the current legislative session Democrats have sponsored bills to add or increase taxes on sales, employers, your wages, cars, the Internet, diapers and much, much more.

There's pressure to increase the state sales tax by a half-cent. It's shortsighted economically.

Proponents crave the instant gratification of quick revenue, not considering how it would stunt the purchasing power of hard-working families and the growth potential of small businesses statewide.

A higher sales tax will force residents and businesses to buy less groceries and paper, for example, as salaries and profits remain stagnant. Fewer purchases mean less tax revenue total.

Instead of helping ease budget woes, a sales tax increase will exacerbate the problem.

Especially when dumped on top of multiple tax increases - some draconian.

A bill by state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles, proposes to tax our wages and business payrolls to start a socialistic new state health plan. The state-run program would be funded by a 3-percent tax on wages a 6-percent tax on business payrolls.

Businesses will flee California in droves if the bill passes, taking with them tax revenue such a government-only health plan would demand. Nobody wins.

Soon I'll be forced to cross the nation to see my brother, sister-in-law and nieces. Every resident in this state must beware, because it could happen to you.

Who's next? Countrywide? Amgen? Disney? Those in power in Sacramento need to begin thinking more broadly about how their actions impact the future of our state.

And our future is jobs.