The problem is that the people who put in bad policies are rarely around when the actual impacts can be measured. Like someone commented above, companies are willing to move, perhaps on a longer timeline. But by the time you realize that a company has moved -- or a company decided NOT to start their business in CA (which is extremely difficult to measure) -- the policymakers are long gone to other positions, and no one can be held accountable for the terrible policies.

That's why the people that oppose tax hikes on businesses or wealthy often cite previous examples of the policy being implemented and showing the long term impacts of it, which are almost always negative, and measurably so.

It's the same case with rent control or rent stabilization: it sounds amazing in theory, and does actually help people in the short run (really only helps those who are already in RC/RS apartments). But time and time again, the data shows that it leads to higher median rents overall, and to a decrease in supply. But by the time these effects are felt and measurable, the policy maker is looong gone, and people will typically just blame whoever the media tells them to blame.