In Your Backyard - March 25, 2008

Alabama
Governor to Lead Trade Mission to China, South America
Gov. Bob Riley (R-AL) has announced he will lead trade missions this spring to China and South America in hopes of boosting Alabama's exports. New statistics show that trade with China and the countries of South America is important to Alabama's economy. For example, China was Alabama's third largest trading partner in 2007, purchasing $808 million in Alabama products, according to the Alabama Development Office. Alabama also exported $83 million in goods to Argentina in 2007 and $67 million to Chile, the ADO reported.
Source: The Anniston Star

 

Massachusetts
State-Subsidized Health Insurance Falls Short
Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) announced that his 2009 budget "significantly" underestimated the costs associated with operating Massachusetts' state-subsidized health insurance program. Facing a financial short fall, a state panel last Thursday approved a contract to pay insurers about 10 percent more for each person enrolled in the subsidized insurance program starting July 1. To offset the increasing costs, the panel voted to raise premiums for 176,000 people enrolled in Commonwealth Care by 10%, as well as raise copayments for many others covered by the state's plan.
Source: The Boston Globe

 

Michigan
House Passes Bill to Help Retrain Workers
The Michigan state House passed a bill that would add $40 million to Michigan's No Worker Left Behind retraining program. Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the nation and Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-MI) has made the passage of this legislation a priority. The governor is seeking to get this legislation passed in order to get laid-off workers the necessary skills to find jobs in higher-demand industries.
Source: South Bend Tribune

 

New York
Governor Pledges $1 billion for Upstate Revitalization Fund
Gov. David Paterson (D-NY) Thursday announced he will not abandon the plan by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer for the Upstate Revitalization Fund. Paterson said he intends to spend $1 billion to jump-start the economy of upstate New York. Spitzer had unveiled the revitalization fund Jan. 16 during his "State of Upstate" address in Buffalo. The plan includes $350 million for business and job development, $115 million for economic development in smaller cities, $100 million for housing and community development, $50 million for agriculture, $80 million for state parks, $130 million for transportation, and $175 million for broadband access and venture capital.
Source: The Buffalo News

 

Oregon
State Spared From Brunt of Economic Downturn
While most of the country worries about a recession, Gov. Ted Kulongoski (D-OR) says that he expects his state will be spared from the brunt of the economic downturn and should be back on pace for modest growth within a year. The state is in better shape than many states because the Oregon housing market has remained relatively strong and a weaker dollar is making the state's exports more attractive abroad. By this time next year, Kulongoski expects the state to be pumping more money into schools, highways, health care, and even savings.
Source: The Oregonian