Connecticut
Tourism Up in 2006
Travel to Connecticut's hotels, casinos, and attractions increased by 1% last year, boosted by an increase of nearly 8% in December, according to the year-end survey by the Mystic County and Country Travel Industry Association. Casino attendance increased by 2.5%, retail by 2.2%, and restaurants by 1.3%, according to the survey.
Source: The Day

Rhode Island
Small Business Seeks Return of Tax Credit
Small-business advocates and the Small Business Administration 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 borrower's fee charged by SBA. The SBA says the credit saved small business owners $11.2 million between 1995 and 2004. State officials said the credit cost the treasury an estimated $1.2 million per year.
Source: Providence Business News

Kentucky
Benefit of Tax Breaks Disputed
Kentucky's strategy of luring businesses with tax breaks hasn't produced nearly the number of new jobs claimed by state officials, according to a new report by three University of Kentucky economists. State officials in March said the state's Cabinet for Economic Development had spent $788 million in tax incentive programs, which led to the creation of 367,000 jobs. The state-funded study by the university economists found that only 127,137 jobs had been created since the tax breaks were introduced in 1989.
Source: The Lexington Herald-Leader

Missouri
Bill to Discourage Hiring of Illegal Immigrants Introduced
A bipartisan bill filed last week would set up a new state agency to discourage businesses from hiring illegal immigrants or renting housing to them. Businesses would be required to use a federal electronic system to check the immigration status of new employees and could lose their licenses if they do not fire or evict illegal immigrants.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Indiana
Construction Projects Face Labor Shortage
Indiana will likely have to hire workers from out of state due to a shortage of laborers to complete a number of major construction projects. Expansions at BP's Whiting refinery and Lake Michigan casinos and highway projects included in the state's Major Moves initiative are expected to create some 5,000 jobs over the next five years.
Source: Associated Press

Kansas
Businesses Unaware of 2006 Tax Cut
Kansas business leaders still rank high taxes as the top impediment to boosting profits, according to a Kansas Chamber survey of 300 businesses, but nearly half of those questioned weren't aware the Legislature last year passed a $632 million tax cut for industry. The law eliminated the state's property tax on new capital investment in business equipment and machinery.
Source: The Topeka Capital-Journal

Utah
Contracting Registration Bill Moves to House
A bill to add female- and minority-owned businesses to the commercial registration process moved to the House for a vote after gaining strong committee support. The measure would create an optional way for female- and minority-owned businesses to identify themselves while registering with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Such tracking would help entities like Hill Air Force Base and the University of Utah meet goals for subcontracting with female- and minority-owned firms.
Source: Deseret News

Washington
Legislators Introduce Family Leave Bill
Democratic lawmakers are taking another crack at passing one of the nation's most generous paid-family-leave benefits. Legislation introduced last week would give Washington employees up to five weeks of paid family medical leave each year. Workers could use it for personal sick leave, to bond with a newborn or adopted child, or to care for an ailing relative or domestic partner. To cover the new benefit, which initially would be capped at $250 per week, the bill would require a payroll tax of 2 cents an hour per employee—about $40 a year for a full-time employee.
Source: The Seattle Times