January 9, 2007

NORTHEAST
New Hampshire
State Exports $2.8 Billion Worth of Products
New Hampshire businesses are on track to break a record for exports, shipping an estimated $2.8 million worth of products to other countries last year. Final numbers are due out in March, but the New Hampshire International Trade Resource Center predicts the state will top its previous record of $2.6 billion set in 2005. Industrial machinery—including computers, electric machinery, sound and TV equipment, seafood, footwear, pharmaceuticals, and live animals—make up the majority of exports.
Source: New Hampshire Union Leader

Vermont
Ski Resorts See Little Snow
Vermont's ski resorts and other snow-dependent businesses are grappling with little natural snow and warm temperatures that have hampered snowmaking attempts. Parker Riehle, president of the Vermont Ski Areas Association, said only 35% of the resort's terrain was open by New Year's Day. Resorts count on the period between Christmas and New Year's for about 25% of their estimated $750 million in seasonal revenues.
Source: Burlington Free-Press

SOUTHEAST
Georgia
House Speaker Proposes Tax Changes
Glenn Richardson, speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, said he is exploring a plan that would completely change Georgia's tax policy. The proposal would eliminate local and state property taxes as well as school taxes and "all junk fees," Richardson said last week. Current school and property taxes would be replaced with a flat income tax of 5% to 5.5% and a "consumption tax," or sales tax, of about 5%. The rates would apply to everyone, regardless of income.
Source: Macon Telegraph

Mississippi
Minimum Wage Increase Faces Uncertain Future
State House Democrats inched forward a proposal to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour by January 2008. If it passes both houses, Gov. Haley Barbour says he would likely veto it because he believes it would destroy jobs and push businesses out of Mississippi.
Source: The Clarion-Ledger

CENTRAL PLAINS
Iowa
New Governor Outlines Tax Priorities
Incoming Gov. Chet Culver gave a preview of his leading legislative priorities recently, including a dollar increase in the cigarette tax and property tax relief for business owners. Culver said he is looking for answers on how to deal with high commercial property taxes from a commission he formed; its recommendations are due by the end of January.
Source: Des Moines Register

Kansas
Business Groups Call for Lower Taxes, Health Costs
Lower taxes, a slower rise in health care costs, and continued spending on aircraft are the business community's priorities for the Kansas Legislature, which begins its 2007 session this week. Wichita-area businesses and business groups are calling for a reduction in the unemployment tax and measures to cut health care costs, including increasing transparency in pricing and improving health savings accounts.
Source: The Wichita Eagle

WEST
California
Governor Unveils Universal Health Care Plan
Gov. Schwarzenegger yesterday proposed to extend health coverage to nearly all of California's 6.5 million uninsured people. The plan would require all Californians to have insurance, although the poorest would be subsidized. Businesses with 10 or more employees would have to offer insurance to their workers or pay 4% of their payroll into a state fund. Smaller businesses would be exempt. Also, insurers would no longer be allowed to deny coverage to people because of their medical problems. Doctors and hospitals would have to pay 2% and 4% respectively of their revenue into the plan, although the governor says health care savings would make up for it. The state also would increase what it pays doctors and hospitals through Medi-Cal, the state insurance plan for the poor.
Source: AP

Washington
Activists Plan Lawsuit Over Education Spending
School-district officials, union leaders, and civic activists are poised to file the most sweeping lawsuit against the state of Washington over education spending in three decades. The suit, which is expected to be filed next week, will ask a court to rule whether legislators have abided by the state constitution, which calls for the state to make education its "paramount duty." The suit will also ask a judge to order the state to increase funding, although it won't seek a specific amount.
Source: The Seattle Times