In Your Backyard

Alabama
Health Plan Appeals to Small Businesses-Gov. Bob Riley (R) has proposed allowing business owners with 25 or fewer employees to deduct twice the amount they pay in health care premiums from their state income taxes.
Source: The Montgomery Advertiser

 

Arizona
Businesses Ask State to Keep Tax Cuts-Business groups are calling on the governor and the Legisla-ture to make permanent a three-year suspension of a state business property tax. The tax is scheduled to go back on the books in 2010, collecting more than $200 million.
Source: The Arizona Republic

 

Michigan
Retirement Plan Sought for Small Business-House lawmakers introduced legislation requiring the state to recruit a private investment planner to create a 401(k)-style retirement plan and make it available to all businesses, even those with only one employee.
Source: Detroit Free Press

 

Texas
Obesity Costs Businesses Billions-Obese workers cost state businesses some $3 billion in 2005, according to a report by the Comptroller's Office. If left unchecked, obesity could cost the state's employers $16 billion annually by 2025. These expenses are calculated based on health care, absenteeism, decreased productivity, and disability.
Source: The Houston Chronicle

 

Virginia
State Tops Business-Friendly List-Virginia is the most business-friendly state, according to a study by an Illinois corporate relocation firm. Its annual listing of the top 10 pro-business states is based on more than two dozen factors, including taxes, energy costs, and the labor climate.
Source: The Virginian-Pilot