Delaware
Business Leaders, Lawmakers Discuss Legislative Wish List
The Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce held a legislative luncheon with state lawmakers last week to air their concerns about local business issues. Small business health insurance, education and workforce preparedness, and proposed taxes on cigarettes and gasoline were among the topics discussed. The chamber also called for the reduction or elimination of a state tax on military pensions.
Source: Delaware State News

Pennsylvania
Lobbyist Warns Against Universal Health Plan Paid for by New Tax
Gov. Ed Rendell's (D) plan to require all businesses to provide health insurance or pay a new 3% payroll tax probably would be declared illegal, a lobbyist for health insurers said. Sam Marshall, who heads the Insurance Federation for Pennsylvania cited the court ruling that struck down Maryland's law to impose a special tax on Wal-Mart. But the Rendell administration has said that decision won't affect this proposal, because it doesn't target a specific business.
Source: The Patriot-News

Alabama
State Considers Expanding Prison Industries
Alabama's prison industries, a $15 million-a-year business, may more than double in size if legislation soon to be introduced in the Legislature is approved. One bill being written would allow products produced by inmates to be sold to government employees and nonprofit groups. Current law limits sales to state and local governments and to schools, to limit competition with the private sector. A separate bill would allow private businesses to move light manufacturing or assembly operations to prison grounds.
Source: The Birmingham News

Missouri
House Approves Tax Cut Bill
The Missouri House voted last week to cut taxes on business by phasing out the corporate franchise tax over the next three years. Businesses worth more than $1 million currently pay an annual tax equal to one-thirtieth of 1% of the value of the business. Under the bill, the tax would be eliminated next year for all companies that are worth less than $15 million and pay at least half the cost of health insurance for full-time employees.
Source: The Kansas City Star

Illinois
Governor Appeals to Small Business on New Tax
Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) sent hundreds of thousands of letters to small-business owners to clear up what he says is "misinformation" about his proposed $6 billion business tax. The governor is appealing to businesses with less than $1 million in annual revenue, saying they would be exempt from the new tax that he says would force big companies to "pay their fair share." The governor proposed a new tax on business revenues as a way to generate billions for public schools and health care.
Source: The Chicago Tribune

Kansas
Legislature Brokers Unemployment Compromise
A compromise that cuts $166 million in unemployment costs for employers and increases benefits for many laid-off workers was approved last week by the Kansas Legislature. It passed unanimously in the Senate and House and now goes to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D), who is expected to sign it into law. Lawmakers wrangled over a provision that eliminated the one-week waiting period for unemployed workers to start receiving their checks. Under the compromise, workers would get the extra week's pay, but not until they have been unemployed for four weeks.
Source: The Kansas City Star

California
Earlier Primary Could Lead to More Media Spending
California's decision to move up its presidential primary to February not only has the potential to increase the state's political clout, but it also will substantially fatten corporate coffers, according to political analysts. In a state where running for governor costs about $50 million, presidential candidates and their media buyers are expected to pour millions into advertising ahead of the new earlier primary.
Source: Los Angeles Daily News

Hawaii
Higher Shipping Rates Squeeze Business
Farmers and small-business owners testified against a proposed 24% increase in less-than-container-load shipping rates at a hearing of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) last week. There was no comment about a separate 5.3% rate increase requested for full containers, except to contrast the small size of that increase with the large increase for small LCL cargo. The PUC is expected to make a determination on the new rates in August, and the rates could take effect in September.
Source: The Maui News