CEO Magazineis one of my monthly reads. There are great insights and inside stories from top leaders in American and around the world. This months edition has a survey on CEO’s Confidence Index. They asked what the best and worst states to do business with in 2009. The best, Texas, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. The worst, California, New York, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

A couple commnets from the article that are important:

Unfortunately, those states with the worst records continue to practice the same policies, that alienate businesses. As the economic downturn worsens and unemployment rises one would think some states would rethink their punitive tax and regulatory structure, not to mention their unionization policies if they want to turn the page and attract new businesses and capital to their area.

..one CEO said, “Michigan and California literally need to do a 180 if they are ever to become competitive again. California has huge advantages with its size, quality of work force, particularly in high tech, as well as quality of life and climate advantages of the state. However, it is an absolute regulatory and tax disaster, as is Michigan.”