If you want to start a business, one of the first steps is to register with the state of California. The paperwork doesn't take long to fill out -- but getting the state to process it is a different story.

The secretary of state's office says that because of a paperwork backlog, new business registrations are currently taking about six weeks. In Texas and New York, new businessowners can get the same kinds of transactions handled in about one week.

Host Stephanie Martin talks with Sacramento Bee reporter Jon Ortiz about the reasons for the slowdown.