Colorado
Governor Vetoes Union Bill
The business community heaped praise on Gov. Bill Ritter (D) for his veto of a bill that would have made it easier for unions to negotiate all-union shops. Ritter broke from his party and ignored a campaign pledge.
Source: The Denver Post

Illinois
Health Plan to Be Funded by Taxes
Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) intends to raise taxes on businesses to pay for most of his $2 billion-plus per year plan to offer health coverage for all of the state's 1.7 million uninsured.
Source: Crain's Chicago Business

Kentucky
Governor Takes Aim at Tax
Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) is willing to discuss reducing the burdensome Alternative Minimum Calculation (AMC). AMC taxes companies three ways: on gross profits, gross receipts, and actual income from profits.
Source: The Lexington Herald-Leader

Maryland
State Takes Another Crack at Living Wage
Lawmakers, with the support of the Democratic governor, are again considering a first-in-the-nation state living wage law. The latest proposal would require state contractors to pay their employees at least $11.95 an hour to qualify for contracts over $100,000. The Legislature passed a similar bill three years ago, but it was vetoed.
Source: The Baltimore Sun

Rhode Island
Small Business Seeks Return of Tax Credit
Small business advocates and the Small Business Admin-istration (SBA) are lobbying the General Assembly to reinstate the SBA loan guarantee fee tax credit, which Rhode Island eliminated in 2004. The tax credit allowed borrowers to reduce their corporate tax liability by the full amount of the loan fee charged by SBA.
Source: Providence Business News