In Your Backyard - Regional Business News

 

Labor, Business Join Together To Defeat Ballot Measures
Business and organized labor agreed to withdraw four labor-backed measures from the ballot and join forces to defeat three anti-labor proposals that will stay on the ballot. The three are a right-to-work amendment that says workers would not be required to join unions at their workplaces or pay union dues; an amendment that prohibits governments from bundling money from public employees’ paychecks and using it for “special interests” or lobbying; and a “clean government” amendment that would prohibit certain government contractors from contributing to political campaigns, ballot initiatives, or an elected official’s campaign.
Source: Fort Collins Now

 

Business Groups Questions Income Tax Initiative
A business-funded watchdog group has released a report indicating that passage of a ballot initiative to cut the state’s personal income tax in half next year and eliminate it completely in 2010 would be detrimental to the city of Boston’s ability to provide basic services, such as education and public safety. The Boston Municipal Research Bureau predicted that the measure would force the state to cut roughly $300 million in local aid to the city, a figure that represents 12% of Boston's annual operating budget. An earlier report commissioned by Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation reached similar conclusions, saying the measure “goes too far.”
Source: The Boston Globe

 

Voters to Consider Increasing State Sales Tax
Business and tax groups are squaring off against conservationists and art organizations over a ballot proposal that would increase Minnesota’s sales tax by 0.375% (to 6.875%) for 25 years, and dedicate the revenue, which is estimated to be $11 billion, to wildlife habitat protection and restoration, water improvements, parks and trails, and arts and culture purposes.
Sources: Grand Forks Herald, Minneapolis Star Tribune

 

State Wrestles With Surplus Oil Revenues
Measure 1 on the ballot seeks to establish a North Dakota oil trust that would begin accumulating money once tax revenues collected from oil companies and sent to the general fund exceed $100 million during the state’s two-year budget period. The proposed trust fund would be easier for the North Dakota Legislature to raid than energy savings funds in other states, where lawmakers are barred from dipping into the principal for any reason. Opponents of the measure are critical of “locking away” large chunks of oil money.
Source: Associated Press

 

City Puts Paid Sick Leave to Voters
Small business owners in Milwaukee are fighting a local paid sick leave referendum that would force all employers to provide nine paid sick days to their employees. Business owners argue that the mandate will cost their company hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time when they don’t have the money. Supporters argue that paid sick leave would be good for working mothers and employers. Mayor Tony Barrett has come out against the referendum but says if it passes, he will enforce it.
Source: TMJ4 News