In Your Backyard - April 29, 2008

Arizona
Business Leaders Tout Campus Upgrade Plan
A $1.4 billion construction proposal pushed by Arizona's three state universities as an economic-stimulus plan is gathering support from the governor and business groups, but it remains to be seen whether the plan will get much traction in the state Legislature. The plan to fix up university campuses would need approval from the Legislature and governor because the universities are asking the state to pick up 80% of the cost. The universities and business leaders say the proposal would generate 30,000 jobs.
Source: The Arizona Republic

 

Florida
Voters to Weigh In on Sales Tax Expansion
Despite strong business opposition, Floridians will vote in November on swapping an average 25% property-tax cut for an increase and possible expansion of the state sales tax. The proposal would reduce homeowner levies and cap non-homestead assessment growth at 5% while increasing the existing 6% sales tax by another 1% and repealing exemptions.
Source: Florida Capital News

 

Indiana
Region Lawmakers Fail on Business Issues
All but four out of 18 state legislators from Northwest Indiana received failing marks last week in an annual report card issued by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The four legislators who received passing marks were all Republicans. Lawmakers were graded on at least 20 votes. To earn a passing grade, legislators had to, for instance, vote against property tax caps that favored homeowners over businesses and support efforts to eliminate township tax assessors. "This report makes it very clear which legislators in 2008 were supportive of pro-business and pro-job-growth issues--and which legislators were not," said Indiana chamber President Kevin Brinegar.
Source: The Times

 

Maine
State Chamber Campaigns to Eliminate New Beverage Taxes
Leaders from various business groups may launch a people's veto effort to overturn recently enacted taxes on beer, wine and soda. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce and the Maine Restaurant Association are two groups considering a campaign to get the more than 55,000 signatures needed to repeal those taxes. The new law passed last month includes taxes on beer, wine and soda to help pay for the state's health care program that covers about 18,000 people.
Source: The Kennebec Journal

 

Missouri
Medical Liability Reform Working, Governor Says
Missouri is seeing the benefits of medical lawsuit restrictions passed nearly three years ago, Gov. Matt Blunt (R) said. Since the liability lawsuit limits took effect in August 2005, lawsuits filed against doctors have dropped sharply, according to government statistics. So have the amount of damages awarded, Blunt said. As a result, the state has climbed up in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's legal climate rating from 41st in 2004 to 34th among the 50 states.
Source: Associated Press