Under Daniels' guidance, Indiana is cutting corporate income taxes from 8.5 percent to 6.5 percent, phased in gradually over the next four years. California's corporate tax rate in California is 8.84 percent.

Governor Daniels likes that comparison. "If I were being sarcastic, I'd say thank you. For reasons best known to them [California], they are so actively hostile to business. And it's reflected, business people tell us, not just in ever-higher taxes, but in punitive and hostile attitudes toward business."

OUT OF CALIFORNIA



"That's quite accurate," said Joseph Vranich, reflecting on the governor's quote after I read it to him. Vranich is a consultant in Irvine, Calif. who helps companies find places to relocate. "The top three reasons why companies leave California are taxes, the costs of regulatory compliance, and a hostile attitude."

According to Vranich's research, with his company Spectrum Location Solutions, at least 254 companies moved all or part of their businesses out of California in 2011. He says they're not being pulled to other locations, they're being pushed out.

"It always starts with a push. I've never had anyone call me and say, hey you know what, we're pretty happy here in California, but is there a place that's even a better Shangri-La for us?' I've never heard that once."

But after that push, are low taxes enough of a draw to South Bend or Bloomington?

HOOSIER STATE?



According to Indiana's Economic Development Department, eight California companies have relocated to Indiana in the past three years. Those companies employ 1517 people in Indiana.

"In a state like Indiana, which has nearly 3 million jobs, that doesn't really amount to very much," said Morton Marcus, a retired economics professor from Indiana University in Bloomington. He also questions how many Indiana companies are opening offices in California.



Marcus said lower taxes rank toward the bottom of the list for a company considering relocation. "The most important issue they have is how do they get their product to market and whether or not they have the workforce they need. And Indiana's main problem is that it doesn't have the kind of workforce that even our existing firms feel that they need."

Joseph Vanich said it's not uncommon for companies to actually chose locations with higher taxes. He said companies evaluate a set of factors when considering a move. "It includes quality of air services, to, if it's a family-owned company, the climate preferences of the wife. You'd be amazed how many times I hear that."

The life sciences company HYCOR Biomedical re-located its corporate headquarters, and seven jobs, from Garden Grove, Calif. to Indianapolis last year.

"I can't say I felt like I was pushed out of California," said HYCOR CEO Dick Aderman. "There are certain regulatory hurdles and things that make it probably a little difficult. For me, it was, the costs are very high to operate out there."