With California en route to becoming the world’s fifth-biggest economy — “Thanks, England!” he quipped — Bill Maher closed Real Time on Friday by gloating over the economic failures gripping other states thanks to their own governors.

“After Arnold [Schwarzenegger] left office, we eliminated what scientists would call variables — in this case, the Republicans,” he explained. “Democrats from governor on down control every office and voting body in this state. So we can really study what happens when liberal policies are tried unimpeded. And the only thing I have to say to Republicans about that is: scoreboard, b*tches.”

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While the GOP argued that “cap-and-trade” policies would lead to a surge in utility prices, Maher argued, the fact was that California boasted some of the country’s most affordable electric bills.

“I oughta know, because I use a lot of juice in my basement to grow my … orchids,” he joked.

By comparison, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s (R) tax cut-driven policies favoring the rich pulled that state into a recession.

“When he took office, [Brownback] said, ‘We’ve got a different way and it works.’ — and by ‘works,’ he meant it works the night shift at Del Taco,” Maher said, adding, “The band Kansas has more money.”

Watch Maher’s commentary, as posted online on Friday, below.