Nevada is spending $250,000 for an ad campaign that compares California legislators to talking chimps and tells business owners they can “kiss their assets goodbye” if they stay put.

Drawing upon the state of California’s escalating budget deficit, high taxes and strict business regulations, the Nevada Development Authority (NDA) launched an advertising campaign on Friday, August 07, 2009 that seeks to attract business owners to relocate to Southern Nevada. More so than in past years’ campaigns, NDA foresees many California businesses considering relocation due to the state’s current troubles.

The campaign highlights Nevada’s business-friendly attitude and the fact that business owners pay no corporate or personal income tax and have much lower workers’ compensation rates. “Just looking at the numbers, I don’t know why a California business owner would NOT relocate to Southern Nevada,” said Somer Hollingsworth, NDA president and CEO. “Business owners would be able to make more money, hire more employees, and buy more equipment. They could do more with their business in Nevada than they ever could in California.”

The campaign comes on the heels of the California economic crisis in which the state faces a $26.3 billion budget deficit for which lawmakers have not provided a responsible solution and is projected to reach $42 billion over the next year. California has started issuing IOUs for a variety of payments it owes, but banks stopped accepting IOUs after July 17, 2009.

The advertising campaign consists of television commercials and print advertisements that illustrate the contrast between California and Nevada’s business environments. It is supported by publicity, grassroots and viral marketing efforts.

Both states are among the recession’s hardest-hit areas and desperately fighting to stay afloat — California recently had to issue more than $1 billion in IOUs to survive a prolonged budget crisis while trying to slash a $26.3 billion debt. And if the IOU’s were not enough now California wants small business to pay tax on the worthless IOU’s.

California Won’t Accept Its Own IOUs

Small businesses that received $682 million in IOUs from the state say California expects them to pay taxes on the worthless scraps of paper, but refuses to accept its own IOUs to pay debts or taxes. The vendors’ federal class action claims the state is trying to balance its budget on their backs.

“Instead of seeking funds through proper channels, the State has created a nightmare,” the class says. “Many of these businesses will not survive if they are required to wait until October 2009 to have these forced IOUs redeemed by the State.”?     The class claims the state is violating the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. It demands that California be ordered to honor its own IOUs, plus interest. They are represented by William Audet.

Roll The Clips:

Nevada Development Authority Ad Campaign – Rotten Apples

Nevada Development Authority Ad Campaign – Apples 2 Apples

Nevada Development Authority Ad Campaign – Monkey Business

Nevada Development Authority Ad Campaign – Monkey Bananas

Vegas’ Message for CA Businesses

But there is clearly a certain amount of grim glee at getting under the skin of their Golden State counterparts. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said he can’t wait for the new ads and a chance to needle California leaders about picking off companies and jobs.?“It’s going to drive them bonkers,” Goodman said. “We’re going to crush them.”

I just wonder what Nancy Pelosi think’s of all of this?

Should be some interesting fireworks between Boxer, Feinstein & Reid when the Senate reconvenes. Cannibalism among the barbarians is something not to be missed.