We wish this true patriot the best.
From Chuck DeVore…
Good-bye, California, I’m going to Texas
It’s hard to say “good-bye” – perhaps “au revoir” is better (till we meet again).
As some of my friends know, our family has been caring for my aged in-laws, 86 and 82. As with many people who have seen a full life of war and work and raising a family, they need our help. This assistance has consumed our whole family – in fact, it’s the toughest thing – and the most important thing – we’ve done, even more so than running for statewide office.
In addition, as with many in the Golden State, I have found it hard to earn enough to support my family. My old aerospace clientele has fled to greener, less-expensive pastures. Combined with the drain on our savings caused by six years of public service in the Assembly, we have come to the reluctant conclusion that it is time to move.
The good news is that there are still other places in America where the taxes are lower and the regulations less onerous than here in California, my home for most of the past 36 years.
One such place is Texas.
It is there, I am pleased to announce, that I have accepted a position as Senior Visiting Scholar for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. My first order of business is to write a book on the Texas Model of how low taxes and low government spending, a light and predictable regulatory environment, respect for property rights, and a business-friendly legal climate has turned Texas into America’s jobs generating dynamo. (In fact, as part of my research, I’ve noted that almost 2 million Californians moved out of the Golden State in the past ten years – Texas, with no income tax, having received the largest number of Californians.)
Believe me, with what I know about California, having been the chief Republican on the Assembly’s tax writing committee, Texas is a vastly different land in regards to public policy.
As for the campaign for Orange County Supervisor, we’ll be winding that down and refunding the surplus to our supporters. This process will take a month or two, but everyone who contributed should get something back.
I’m expecting that a successful businessperson, someone with a strong record in promoting fiscally responsible policies, will soon step forward to run for the important office of Orange County Supervisor. When that person emerges, I expect that you’ll know who it is and that they have my full support.
I’m hoping, that in some modest, tangible way, California today has a bit more economic freedom, a slightly lighter tax burden, a little less government spending, a few less business-killing regulations and more jobs – in short, more liberty – because of my time in the arena.
California is in a precarious position. Years of overspending, overregulation, and generous payouts to strong public employee unions have left the Golden State gasping for air. Just last week it was revealed that California’s budget revenue is falling some $705 million short of estimates made just a few short months ago in the first quarter of the new fiscal year.
I hope to keep in touch with y’all (I’m practicing for Texas).
If I don’t respond right away to calls and emails, it’s because I have 200 pages to write and nothing concentrates the mind like a deadline.
I wish you all the best and hope to see the great state of California turn things around and prosper – with one-eighth of Americans living in California, America needs a strong and an economically vital California.
All the best,
Chuck DeVore
Comments 7
Dear Chuck,
Good luck with your future endeavors and may God bless you for caring for your in-laws in their old age.
Texas’ gain is California’s loss… we could have had a good Senator if the dumb-butted Republican Party had run you instead of Carley Fiorina. So now we’re stuck with Barbara Boxer (ugh!) for the next five plus years. When is the CA G.O.P. going to wake up?
Again, my best wishes and prayers go with you and your family.
Dear Chuck,
I supported you in the bid to take Feinstein’s seat. You are a good man. I too am caring for my 92 year veteran father; Mom died 18 months ago. We are trying to sell our ranch to move to Idaho.
We are now living on a reverse mortgage as my Husband’s Construction Co. has dried up.
The voters of California keep voting in idiots and ruining the state I was born in. Good bye sweet Cali.
Chuck we wish you the best that life has to offer.
Don and Connie Pueblo
I moved to Texas from CA back in ’84. You will LOVE it here! I tried going back to CA in ’09 and couldn’t get back to Texas fast enough.
Howdy! and Welcome to Texas
Two cheers to people who respond to tough times in
the Golden State by fleeing somewhere else.
When his movie career, and 1st marriage, cratered
circa 1950, Ronald Reagan might have headed back
to the Midwest. He did not do it. Reagan stayed here
and started over again in that new-fangled Television
thing.
It was not easy, and many in Hollywood mocked him
for going to the “small screen.”
But the results were positive for Ronald Reagan, for
California, and for the USA. We are fortunate that
President Reagan made that decision… to stay here
and make things better.
I wish you all the best in your move, and in taking care of your family. We are still located here in CA but have moved most of our business operations out of state. We will most likely relocate out of state at some point soon. I was somehwat disturbed to read that as a legislator with a six figure salary, per diems and most expenses covered still required you to dig in to savings for six years. Just think about most of this state’s taxpayers who make a fraction — how do they survive???
Chuck Devore will be missed, but such departure stories merit circulation far and wide. Same for D7’s business story.
CA pays by far the highest state legislative salary and perks. But they also represent FAR more people per rep than any other state.
So, even though the pay is 6 figures, how do we get quality people to run for the job (it ain’t as easy as you’d think — especially successful people)? I’d suggest the best solution is to do what Texas and many other states do — go to a part-time legislature. That would allow our reps to retain local employment and business ties, so the state pay would be less of a factor (and could be substantially reduced).
Texas state legislators make (with typical per diem included) $28,400 a year.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Legislature#Salary_of_Legislative_Officials
Other benefits accrue to the electorate. The reps stay in touch with reality and the private sector economy. Feeding at the public trough is not their top priority.
But, most important, the old 19th century maxim applies — “No man’s like, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.” The fewer days they meet, the fewer laws they will pass.
When CA went from a part-time to a full-time state legislature, there was an IMMEDIATE 40% increase in the number of laws passed. It’s doubtful that those extra laws were somehow needed for the good of the state or its populace.
Only 10 states have a full-time legislature (defined as spending 80% or more time on the job).
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/States_with_a_full-time_legislature
A look at these 10 states certainly doesn’t make the case that states with a full-time legislature are better off than the rest:
California State Legislature
Florida State Legislature
Illinois General Assembly
Massachusetts General Court
Michigan State Legislature.
New York Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
Ohio State Legislature.
Pennsylvania General Assembly
Wisconsin State Legislature
Mr. Devore, I’m sure your influence will be missed in CA. However, you are making a smart move. If it were not for family & old friends here in Ca, we would seriously think of moving to TX and I was born in CA. We are retired and believe me, not having to pay 10% income tax would help a lot in our retirement years.
We, unfortunately do not have much hope for CA in the near or far out future. Having spoken with Keven Jeffries and his experience in the Assembly, it seems that the far left CA gov’t. has control and will until Californian’s decide to vote out the bums and I don’t see that happening. We have more & more takers moving into CA. Also, the people that left CA are not the takers, they are the responsible creative ones. We are now being left with the takers and they will be the voters. The best thing that could happen in CA is for it to go bankrupt and start over, and get rid of Jerry Brown that has no idea what to do. Did you know he went to TX to confer with Gov. Perry? Of course, he won’t take the advice and if he did he would be fought big time by his cronies. God help CA, we need it!