McCarthy: California's increasingly unfriendly business and regulatory climate will drive out our best businesses

 Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill. In his words:

"Kern County is home to immensely talented individuals, something we have seen play out over the past couple weeks in the news, both nationally and internationally.

 "This week, we saw Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo successfully ignite its rocket motor for the first time and break the sound barrier in 16 seconds.  I called and spoke to Sir Richard Branson that day,

who was in Mojave for this  momentous flight, and congratulated him and his team for making history. Not only does SpaceShipTwo’s first rocket-powered test flight signal a pivotal turning point for private commercial space flight, but it reminds us that when innovation and entrepreneurship are combined, the possibilities are truly limitless.  I want to recognize all the hardworking people at Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites who made this milestone a reality.

 "These achievements do not happen by accident; it’s the ingenuity of these individuals that make these visionary dreams possible. Here in Kern County, we embody this notion. Whether it be cutting-edge aerospace technology, traditional or non-traditional energy development or innovative solutions for water and agriculture production, we have a history of working hard with what we have to solve tough problems – and making groundbreaking achievements while we are at it. 

 "However, I am seriously concerned that because of California’s increasingly unfriendly business and regulatory climate, other states around the nation will offer better incentives and opportunities for these companies to relocate this burgeoning industry. The commercial spaceflight industry has already had a significant and tangible impact on California’s economy, and this week’s successful launch marks one giant step forward – and it’s all happening right here in our own backyard. I will continue fighting for commonsense legislation that will encourage stability and growth in this new industry and others.

 "Beyond spaceflight, we saw two great athletic accomplishments from Bakersfield natives this week as well.  Kevin Harvick earned his first win of the season at the Sprint Cup Series and his 20th career victory when he raced past his competitors in chaotic traffic to finish first after the final restart.  In addition, congratulations to Bakersfield High School graduate Philip Thomas, who was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 4th round of the NFL draft, the first player from Bakersfield to be drafted since Ryan Mathews.  As a former Driller, it’s great to see another Driller achieve his dream.  I look forward to watching a Redskin  game with my son Connor and seeing Philip play.

 "Finally, I want to congratulate the Arvin High School “We the People” team who competed in the national competition in Washington, D.C.  All their hard work paid off as they finished in the top 15 across the country and was the first place team in the Western Region.

 "As a community, we should all be proud of these accomplishments and proud to call Kern County our home.