As a slave to Fox News, I constantly hear that the government -- particularly the current administration -- is anti-business and anti-jobs. While I don't personally know if this administration is any more anti-business or anti-jobs than any of its predecessors, the business climate does vary from state to state within the Union. Always has, always will. This fact was backed up by a recent survey of more than 500 U.S. CEOs polled by Chief Executive magazine.

According to Chief Executive, the surveyed CEOs based their opinions on a variety of factors, including regulations, tax policies, work force quality, education resources, quality of living and infrastructure. As you likely know from personal experience, each of these factors can have a significant impact on the decisions you make for your own business -- including whether or not to locate your business in a particular state or city, or even a different country.

Here are some of the results of the survey:

The 5 Best

1. Texas

2. North Carolina

3. Florida

4. Tennessee

5. Georgia

The 5 Worst

46. Michigan

47. New Jersey

48. Illinois

49. New York

50. California

Perhaps needless to say, my state -- California -- was ranked dead last on the list. While I personally don't think that I am particularly disadvantaged by California's tax code or its environmental and other laws and regulations, I can see where some captains of industry might. Says T.J. Rodgers, CEO of Cypress Semiconductor, a $668 million chip-making firm in San Jose,"ABC – Anywhere But California. It's expensive, it's hostile to business and environmental regulations are more of a drag on business than protecting the environment."

Interestingly enough, my old stomping grounds -- the South -- was ranked at the very top of the list, easily capturing the top-5 positions.

Keep this list in mind the next time you're thinking of opening a new facillity -- or moving an old one. The company you save may be your own.