California ranks as America’s most disliked state. Republicans are particularly adamant in their distaste while Democrats have a favorable impression of the state, according to the poll by Public Policy Polling.

California was one of only five states to get an unfavorable overall score, with 27 percent giving it a “favorable” and 44 percent giving it the thumbs down. (The rest of those polled didn’t have an opinion.)

Republicans scored it 12 percent favorable and 68 percent unfavorable. Democrats scored it 46 favorable and 20 percent unfavorable.

Hawaii easily topped the list, 54 percent to 10 percent, followed by Colorado, Tennessee and South Dakota.

Following California as the least favorable states were Illinois, New Jersey, Mississippi and Utah.

Tax rankings

By some measures, California’s tax burden lands the state in the nation’s top 10 – but you can’t blame Sacramento alone.

A study by the Tax Foundation found that California’s state and local tax burden was $4,910 per person in 2009, sixth highest nationwide. (No. 1 is Connecticut at $7,256.) But local taxes were a key reason for California’s high ranking.

When you look at all state revenue – including taxes, fees, licenses, and intergovernmental revenue – the amount per person is $5,292, landing California at a moderate 24th highest nationwide.

But in the category including both state and local revenue, California’s amount jumps to $8,634 per capita – and the state’s ranking jumps to 13th highest.

California businesses, on the average, fare worse than individuals, according to the Tax Foundation. It ranks the state 48th in business tax climate, which it calculates based on a combination of corporate, income, sales, property and unemployment insurance taxes. Those factors helped push the state up to sixth highest overall.

Property taxes are the biggest source of state and local tax revenue (31.8 percent), individual income tax (26.2 percent), followed by sales tax (22 percent), and corporate income tax (5.6 percent). All other taxes account for a 14.4 percent share.

Women’s fight

Actress Geena Davis, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Secretary of State Debra Bowen, and Reps. Loretta and Linda Sanchez were among those gathering at Newport Beach’s Fairmont Hotel on Wednesday as part of an effort to save the state’s Commission on the Status of Women.

Gov. Jerry Brown has targeted the advocacy panel as part of $4.2 billion in proposed cuts, which include big ticket trims to Medi-Cal and child-care spending. Part of Brown’s approach to the budget deficit is to streamline government by merging or eliminating a number of agencies and panels, including the Commission on the Status of Women.

The panel has a maximum annual budget of $465,000.

Advocates say the 47-year-old commission has important work yet to do, pointing out that women account for just 28 percent of the state Legislature and 16 percent of Congress.

“Only one Fortune 500 company in California has a woman CEO and just 16 of the top 400 California companies are run by women,” according to the press release sent out by California NOW’s Lori Vandermeir. “Compared to men, California women earn 84 cents on the dollar.”

While lauding the commission’s advocacy goals, Brown said, “This reduction reflects the need for government to focus on its core functions…. There are other formal and informal venues for policy development and advocacy that do not require general fund expenditures.”

Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com