From Site Selection magazine, November 2000
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Oklahoma
Although Gov. Frank Keating didn't receive the right-to-work vote he's been seeking, his insistence on Workers' Compensation reform has finally paid off. After calling a special session in June, the state passed legislation that changes Oklahoma's workers' compensation system from the more costly judicial system to an administrative one. Oklahoma was one of only three states utilizing the judicial system.
Oklahoma also signed into law a measure designed to provide tax incentives for Oklahoma City's General Motors plant, which will result in savings for other expanding industries in the future. The bill modifies the sales tax exemption for new and expanding industries to include an enterprise whose total cost of construction of an expanded facility exceeds $300 million. The measure also allows tax credits to be carried over for 10 years after an initial five-year period.
In terms of high-technology development, the state has formed the Oklahoma Science and Technology Advisory Council. The seven-member council will research, develop and report to the governor the means available to the state to become a leader in targeted industries based in science and technology cooperation, development and research.
On the education front, Keating signed legislation that raises high school graduation requirements, which resulted in the state receiving an "A-" from Education Week magazine for stronger academic standards. Oklahoma also passed legislation enacting the Oklahoma Tuition Scholarship program, which rewards excellence by helping graduates pay for a college education.
Governor: Frank Keating (R) 405-521-2342
As Oregon looks ahead to its 2001-03 legislative sessions, plans are already being put into place to make changes to the state's workers' compensation system. In May, Gov. John Kitzhaber received a package of recommendations from a team of six Oregon labor and management leaders for improving the state's system. The governor noted that the group's package would be crafted into a bill for consideration during the 2001 legislative session. In terms of employer changes, the package suggests providing more certainty about future liability exposure and creating a less adversarial system for all. The burden of proof would move from worker to employer, and the maximum temporary total disability compensation rate would move to 133 percent of the Oregon average weekly rate.
The state is also preparing to hit the books on education reform for the upcoming biennial session. The Quality Education Commission was formed to help lawmakers establish the costs of providing education necessary for Oregon's students to meet the goals of the Education Act of the 21st Century. The commission is required to complete its work in time for the governor to use it in preparation of the 2001-03 state budget.
Acting on legislation passed during the 1999-2000 session, Kitzhaber made appointments to the Oregon Internet Commission. The commission will review Oregon's Internet profile and position in the new economy, making recommendations on how best to encourage Internet commerce.
Governor: John A. Kitzhaber (D) 503-378-3111
Sometimes money speaks louder than words, and the mention of $303 million will more than likely make anyone's ears perk up. That's the amount companies in Pennsylvania will save this year with the recent cut in the state's Capital Stock and Franchise (CS&F) tax. The multimillion-dollar tax cut was part of an even larger (in fact the state's largest ever) tax cut of $775 million, which doubles the last record of $398 million that was set last year. Over the next nine years, the CS&F tax will be phased out altogether.
Unemployment taxes were also reduced this year by $20 million. Although the legislation was passed last year, the law didn't take effect until this year. Pennsylvania has cut unemployment compensation taxes by $2.85 billion since 1995.
The latest budget also provided increased funding to several of the state's business tools. The Opportunity Grant program, the state's major business location and retention incentive program, received an increase of $28 million, bringing the total to $63 million. Pennsylvania also launched a second $50 million early stage venture fund and added another $8.1 million to the Pennsylvania Technology Investment Authority, which provides financing for small and medium-sized technology firms and encourages university-based research in high-technology fields.
Gov. Tom Ridge's Administration is also tackling work-force development issues. One of the governor's efforts was to provide $12 million for the Guaranteed Free Training program, which provides customized training in manufacturing and technology firms. As part of this program, WEDnetPA, a new one-stop collaborative of higher education institutions, was developed.
Pennsylvania also established the Incumbent Worker Training in Information Technology program and expanded the Team Pennsylvania CareerLink work-force system. The CareerLink system contains personalized online services for job seekers and employers. The state also provided $1.9 billion in funding for higher education, a 7.2 percent increase.
In terms of moving the state of Pennsylvania forward as a 21st century state, Ridge signed into law the Electronic Transactions Act, giving E-signatures the same legal standing as a signature on paper. Pennsylvania was the first state in the nation to enact the recommended version of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
Pennsylvania also recently began several new high-tech initiatives. The Lightning Manufacturing initiative is a partnership between the state and several technology and industrial firms, such as IBM, Lockheed Martin, Ingersoll Rand, Allied Signal and Cadence Design Systems, to develop new business-to-business e-commerce applications.
Pennsylvania's Digital Greenhouse initiative is a similar partnership between the state, three major universities and more than a dozen electronics firms. This is designed to enhance development of products and technologies for the Internet.
Governor: Tom Ridge (R) 717-787-2500
Puerto Rico continues to emphasize its importance as a gateway to the South and Central American marketplaces. The most recent move was the unveiling of its new $600 million Americas World Trade District. The plan will create an international trade and convention center in San Juan, making the city one of the largest waterfront urban districts in the United States.
The goal of the new district is to promote globalization, says Xavier Romeu, secretary of economic development and commerce. The district, which is scheduled to open in 2002, will feature a new Puerto Rico Convention Center, and the new World Trade Center.
Such moves have made Puerto Rico a much more stable economy. Moody's Investor Services recently changed Puerto Rico's rating from stable to positive. Moody's noted that the expansion of such initiatives as the wage tax credit, Section 30-A, is encouraging companies to keep and locate jobs in the market.
Governor: Pedro Rossello Gonzalez
Gov. Lincoln Almond signed into law the FY2001 state budget on June 29. Both economic development and education, especially in terms of high-technology growth, moved to the forefront of his efforts.
On the education front, higher education received an increase of $10.7 million in operating funds. Voters will also decide this month on a $37 million bond referendum for renovations to the University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and for a new Newport campus of the Community College of Rhode Island.
In terms of boosting technology in the state, the FY2001 budget invested further in the Slater Technology Fund. Also, aside from the budget, Almond forged a new partnership with the federal government to pursue the construction of a high-tech laboratory/incubator facility next to the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Middletown to advance state-federal technology collaborations, start-up ventures and technology transfer activities.
Another referendum on the November ballot is a $62.5 million boost
Governor: Lincoln Almond (R) 401-277-2080
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