Big businesses left the state because Mexico and India were less regulated, and it was easier to turn a profit there. Small businesses don’t exactly have the same economic liberty, as costs of relocating to a foreign country would represent too large a percentage of their budget. They might try another state or quit altogether. It therefore makes diplomatic sense to offer them some form of appeasement. Remember, there is a $4 billion budget gap on the horizon, and the big dogs, now in greener pastures, aren’t around to help with it.