That question has been on my mind lately. The answer more often than not has been no. Take the position of several of the candidates.... That question has been on my mind lately. The answer more often than not has been no.

Take the position of several of the candidates on creating a national language. Despite sending campaign emails in Spanish, Newt Gingrich wants to make English the official language of government. Is this a business-friendly move? It would seem to me the tourism industry for one should be opposed. If you've spent some time at customs with people getting into the wrong lines because they can't read the signs, you'll know the importance of having signs people can read. More languages are better. Multi-lingual classes will make more employable citizens. English-only is bad for business.

Then take the housing market. Ending Fannie and Freddie was a theme repeated in the Republican debates. That's not what some trade groups want to hear. In fact, industry experts say that's exactly what's not needed. If the business groups are right, a recovery in the housing market will be hampered by the GOP and its potential actions.

Then there's immigration. The candidates are cowering with fear that they'll be tied to the buzzword of amnesty. Yet major business groups promote immigration reform. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says endorses the creation of an effective and streamlined temporary worker program so that employers can hire immigrant workers when U.S. workers are unavailable; and provide a pathway to legal status for undocumented workers. More, the business group advocates for continuing and expanding temporary worker programs for highly skilled workers and securing additional workers to be responsive to regional and local labor market needs or shortages, including the expansion of existing worker visa programs.

Then there's this whole state's rights thing. Are 50 insurance regulators really better than one? Is that bureaucratic mess pro-business? More, how can candidates like Rick Santorum advocate a state's right to limit personal freedoms and civil liberties? If as Richard Florida says local economies succeed when they have three t's- talent, technology and tolerance, it makes you wonder if a party which would like to enable the restriction of one or more can be considered pro-business. Especially when many major businesses are out in front on these issues.