by Cole Lauterbach, The Center Square | May 13, 2021 12:00 PM Print this article
Arizona has fallen from the nation’s ranks of most competitive economic outlooks after voters enacted a new income bracket to better fund public schools.
The Copper State ranks 13th for economic outlook in the U.S in the American Legislative Exchange Council Center for State Fiscal Reform s 2021 Rich States, Poor States competitive index. The state ranked 10th last year.
Judged by more than a dozen metrics, Arizona received low marks on its sales tax, minimum wage and top marginal income rate.
Voters approved Prop. 208 last fall. It created an additional 3.5% income tax on single filers with marginal income over $250,000 and joint filers making more than $500,000. The money is used to increase teacher pay, retention and other public school-related spending.
Louisiana House Republicans propose return-to-work bonus
By MELINDA DESLATTEMay 13, 2021 GMT
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Republican House lawmakers on Thursday began advancing a proposal to offer Louisiana residents receiving unemployment up to $1,000 to go back to work, but only if they give up their right to claim jobless benefits for six months.
GOP lawmakers on the House labor committee added the language pushed by Rep. Mike Echols into a separate measure that sought to modestly increase the maximum weekly unemployment benefit offered in Louisiana. The vote to add the incentive provision was 6-5, with Republicans supporting it and Democrats in opposition.
Newsom calls for spending on tourism, tax breaks and more in new business relief plan
Sacramento Bee 1 hr ago Jeong Park, The Sacramento Bee
May 13 Gov. Gavin Newsom is ready to spend on tax breaks, tourism and poaching employers from other states as he crafts a multi-billion dollar plan to help businesses recover from COVID-19.
He announced a business relief plan Thursday as part of the state budget proposal he s unveiling this week. Flush with a historic $75 billion surplus, Newsom and the Legislature have a lot of resources to assist companies and people set back by the pandemic.
Newsom s proposal would pour an additional $1.5 billion in COVID-19 relief grants for small businesses, building on a previous $2.5 billion allotment he and the Legislature approved earlier this year.
SACRAMENTO
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed adding $1.5 billion to a program providing grants of up to $25,000 to small businesses harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic in California, allowing thousands more to get financial help.
The additional funds from federal COVID-19 aid to the state would bring the amount allocated in recent months for grants to $4 billion, which Newsom told business leaders would make it the largest state program of its kind in the country.
“Small businesses intimately understand the pain and stress of the last year directly understand it and the struggle now to reopen with all of the dust settling around us,” Newsom said during a virtual address to a meeting of the California Chamber of Commerce.
Small business, roaring back, and a word to the haters | Gov. Newsom speaks about economic relief plan
Newsom gave a quick preview of his plan of an additional $4 billion in grants to business owners to the California Chamber of Commerce. Author: Samantha Solomon (ABC10), Associated Press Published: 11:33 AM PDT May 13, 2021 Updated: 11:35 AM PDT May 13, 2021
CALIFORNIA, USA A discussion on key investments California plans to make in the proposed 2021-22 budget turned to the state s continued, albeit toned down due to the coronavirus pandemic, success in business and entrepreneurship.
Gov. Gavin Newsom broke down many parts of his proposed 2021-22 budget during an event hosted by the California Chamber of Commerce, and in turn, touched on what he called misconceptions of California s economic progress.