The 10 best and worst states for business

Chief Executive magazine conducted a survey of CEOs about the best and worst states to do business in and has ranked the 50 states based on the responses from more than 700 executives. The CEOs were asked to grade states on metrics like taxation and regulation, workforce quality and living environment. Here are the 10 best and worst states for business, according to the magazine:

Best states:
1. Texas
2. Florida
3. North Carolina
4. Tennessee
5. Indiana
6. Arizona
7. Virginia
8. South Carolina
9. Nevada
10. Georgia

Worst states:
41. Maryland
42. Pennsylvania
43. Hawaii
44. Michigan
45. Connecticut
46. New Jersey
47. Massachusetts
48. Illinois
49. New York
50. California

The magazine also included some comments from executives about the states. Here's a sampling of what they had to say about Pennsylvania:

"I consider [Pennsylvania] the 'stupid state' not because it is consistently bad, but rather it is inconsistent, which is far worse to plan business."

"God help anyone dealing with PA's department of revenue."

And here's what some CEOs thought of New Jersey:

"New York and New Jersey have high costs of doing business and favor local companies to a greater extent than other states favor their local companies."

"New Jersey actually seems like it is trying to get a little bit more business friendly. But historically, I have never dealt with a state that had more of a 'gotcha' attitude and treated businesses like they were guilty until proven innocent."