How Can We Save California's Economy?

Los Angeles - We're inviting California business leaders and politicians to voice their concerns and offer solutions to the state's economic crisis. Meet some of the key people who will help us focus on ways to turn things around in the Golden State.

Carlos Amezcua has more on "Saving the California Dream" in the video report.

Gavin Newsom
"You cannot be pro-job and anti-business."

California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom says this state needs a sea change and needs it now.

Gavin Newsom
"If you want to get those 2.157 million people back to work if you got to be embrace the entrepreneural spirit of the private sector. First thing that's gotta change is attutide. We've got to go out of our way and make sure business knows that we care."

Carl's Jr. CEO Andy Puzder says that's the problem. He thinks too many politicians in Sacramento don't care about business.

Andy Puzder
"It's like the government has our hands on our back pushing us out of the state."

Business relocation expert Joseph Vranich says palm trees and ocean scenes are no longer enough to stave off the exodus of business.

Joseph Vranich
"You can save your company, literally, by moving out of California."

Joseph Vranich
"It's the most regulated state in the U.S. and regulations cost companies a lot of money and the tax structure is really brutal in California. So if you're a company that's very profitable, it's in your best interest to move out to a place like Texas, Florida, Arizona, Colorado, wherever."

That's what Andy Puzder did.

A call from Texas Governor Rick Perry resulted in Carl's Jr. now building 300 new restaurants in Texas -- a move that 's expected to bring more than 7,500 jobs there.

Andy Puzder
"In Texas, from the time you apply for your permits to build to the time you start construction it's about six weeks. In California, it's about eight months."

Puzder says he'd love to build more restaurants in California, where his company is based, but he simply can't afford the cost.

Andy Puzder
"You look at any individual law or regulations, you can come up for a good reason for it, the problem is when you add them all up over a period of 50, 60, 70 years.... they rules and regulations have become oppressive."

Andy Puzder
"We're talking about turning the Titanic here. We're not talking about turning a rowboat. The iceberg is coming up, and it's gonna take a little while to turn it. The California dream is the American dream. We need to get that back."

What do you think? Leave your comments here.