The best job is a permanent job, created in the private sector in a growing California economy. Thus, we should do everything we can to foster an environment in California that will cause jobs to be offered here and to stay here.

Many of the proposals made elsewhere in these position papers, for regulatory reform, litigation reform, and taxation reform, will improve the jobs environment in California.

There is also a role for the State to play in employing Californians on projects to rebuild our roads, port facilities, water supply, energy supply, and other aspects of what makes our economy flourish. To finance these projects, the State should not go deeper in debt through general obligation bonds, and it would be harmful to economic recovery to increase taxes.

The source of revenue, rather, should be the users of the new and improved facilities themselves. Of the many billions of general obligation bonds already authorized, careful study should be done to determine which could be replaced with specifically funded bonds instead. Users of additional water supply, new and greener energy, and port improvements could all pay for the cost of those additional facilities over time. The long-term benefit to our state will be great, and in the near term, needed jobs, especially in the industries hurt by the slow-down in construction, will be generated.