California employers in July axed a net 21,800 jobs — half the jobs the entire nation shed last month — sending payrolls plunging to their lowest level since the state’s job market began its long slide more than two years ago, according to government data released Friday.
. . .
Many companies have seen their workers’ comp premiums double, or even triple, in just the last year.

Because premiums are based in part on the size of a company’s payroll, some employers are slamming the brakes on hiring or even cutting their workforces to reduce costs.

Howard Furst, owner of AAA Flag & Banner Manufacturing Co. in Los Angeles, recently laid off six flag installers in an effort to keep his premiums down after his bill doubled to $400,000.

“These rates are killing us,” said Furst, who employs about 200 workers. “I’m even thinking of moving to Las Vegas.”

All psyched here to cast my vote against Davis in October. He can say all he wants, but unless I see a lot of cold hard cash there’s no way he’s getting a vote from this household.

Of course that brings up the question of who to vote for. Options seem to be coming out of the woodwork, and the deadline to file still has a few hours to run, but Arnold is definitely my early favorite.

5 Responses to “California’s Number One!”

1. Naladahc says:

   August 09, 2003 at 1:51 pm

   Well duh!

   You’re only two options are Gary Colemand or Larry Flynnt.

   Think of all the fun you could have with either of them as Guv’nor!
2. Naladahc says:

   August 09, 2003 at 5:07 pm

   Coleman.

   I must have been on crack when I typed that earlier.
3. Chuck says:

   August 09, 2003 at 5:18 pm

   No problem. I think serious drugs will be the only way to understand this election.

   But c’mon: between Flynt, a man who (yes, given what he looks like, thankfully) profits from other people’s bodies, and Arnold, who’s shown ample inclination to profit from his own, you’d pick the pimp?
4. Naladahc says:

   August 10, 2003 at 12:57 pm

   With the reality that is the United States of America slowly crumbling… why not?
5. mike says:

   August 10, 2003 at 12:58 pm

   I’m really looking forward to the election in a “so bad that it’s impossible to look away” sort of sense.