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Strickland Plan Adds More Historic Tax Credits

Ohio – An economic stimulus package, announced by Gov. Ted Strickland, includes $120 million in new funding for the program, whose suspension in mid-March threatened more than $100 million in local development projects. The tax credit program provides a 25 percent refundable tax credit to developers who purchase and renovate historically significant properties. The program was intended to fund up to 100 projects a year, but the state only set aside $120 million for the credits, all of which was gobbled up by the first 37 projects. The stimulus package would provide $120 million for additional tax credits, more than enough to cover the roughly $93 million in pending applications statewide.
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CAMPAIGN NEWS

MO – Nixon Offers Ideas for Economic Stimulus. State Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon last week used Kirksville as the inaugural stop in his Missouri Main Street tour. Nixon said he wants to send the message that supporting small business is a key issue for his campaign. “With Jay Nixon as governor, the folks that started their businesses and keep their businesses, that keep Missourians in Missouri, are going to be a focal point of our attention,” he said. If elected governor, Nixon said he plans to have an advocate in his office to develop relations and support small businesses.
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WA – Democrats Gaining Strength in State. Democrats in the state of Washington are increasingly better positioned to keep the Governor’s mansion and to take over a key House district in the state’s most competitive contests this election cycle. Gov. Chris Gregoire and 8th District candidate Darcy Burner came within a razor thin edge of their opponents in their last contests. But analysts now say that the Democrats have upped their chancing of winning as the state GOP party faces structural problems and GOP efforts to appeal to the state’s large number of moderate voters has been hampered by their strong conservative base. CQ Politics is now changing its rating of the Washington state Governor’s race from No Clear Favorite to Leans Democrat.
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HOUSING NEWS

MD – Sweeping Bills to Help Homeowners a “Signature Accomplishment for O’Malley.” Maryland lawmakers passed some of the nation’s most ambitious legislation to control the housing crisis yesterday by toughening oversight of the mortgage-lending industry and establishing preemptive measures to help people at risk of foreclosure. Components of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s legislation package cleared the Democratic-controlled General Assembly yesterday, and other bills advancing in it were widely expected to pass as soon as this morning. The bills include making the most egregious mortgage schemes subject to criminal prosecution, extending the foreclosure timetable from 15 to 150 days and prohibiting prepayment penalties and transactions in which homeowners are tricked into signing over their houses to third parties. Lawmakers hailed the legislation as a signature accomplishment for O’Malley, whose administration introduced the package after conducting a broad study of the housing crisis last year.
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MI – Granholm Takes Action to Stabilize Housing Market. Lawmakers and lenders watched Gov. Jennifer Granholm sign bills aimed at stabilizing the state’s housing market. Touted as “Save the Dream” legislation, the bills enable the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to refinance adjustable-rate mortgages into 30-year fixed-rate loans and get better terms for certain delinquent mortgages. The state agency previously offered assistance for house purchases but not existing mortgages. The refinancing, funded by the sale of taxable bonds, is available to homeowners with household income below $108,000 and home value less than $224,500. “This is a way for us as a state to underwrite the risk of those who otherwise might lose their homes,” Granholm said. “We’re not in it to make a profit. We’re in it to protect people.”
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NY – Paterson Announces Housing Grants. Gov. David Paterson announced that more than $967,000 will be given to the Housing Partnership Development Corporation to build 30 units of affordable housing in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. Nearly $1.5 million will be handed out in Brooklyn as well as two other Upstate counties. The money will help build and renovate 122 units of affordable housing. “These grants demonstrate our commitment to building affordable housing and strengthening neighborhoods in every corner of New York State,” Paterson said.
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ENERGY NEWS

CO – Ritter Signs Measure to Promote Renewable Energy. Gov. Bill Ritter signed a net-metering measure into law that requires rural cooperative electric associations and some municipally owned utilities to allow their customers to be paid a fair rate for excess electricity generated by those customers’ solar, wind or geothermal energy systems. With net-metering, meters will run forward and backward, providing equal credit for power produced and consumed. This allows owners of wind and solar systems to receive credit for the power put onto the grid and reduces their utility bill. Ritter said the bill would engage homeowners and businesses throughout Colorado in the process of the new energy economy.
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IA – Culver: State First in Wind-Generated Electricity. Iowa ranks first in the nation in the percentage of wind-generated electricity on its grid, and the state is fourth in total generation capacity, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Five major wind-generation manufacturers have located or expanded in Iowa. “Iowa leads the nation in producing its power from wind energy and is in position to become the renewable-energy capital of the U.S.,” said Gov. Chet Culver.
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WI – Doyle Moves Toward Cleaner Energy with Grant Program. Gov. Jim Doyle recently launched Clean Energy Wisconsin to promote renewable energy, create new jobs, and increase energy security and efficiency in the state. Doyle also announced that the Department of Commerce will soon begin taking applications from businesses and researchers for financial assistance from the new Wisconsin Energy Independence Fund. Through the development and deployment of new discoveries and innovations, Wisconsin will use its natural resources and manufacturing expertise to develop new businesses focused on reducing foreign oil dependence. This effort will leverage nearly $1 billion in private investment and create new jobs for Wisconsin families on our farms, in our forests, in our research labs and for our manufacturers.
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GENERAL NEWS

KS – Sebelius Welcomes Top 10 Ranking. Kansas is ranked in another top 10, and this time it has nothing to do with basketball. The Sunflower state is included in the Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States for 2008, a listing that analyzes factors that affect the ability of states to attract new businesses or encourage existing businesses to expand within the state. Using 29 categories – including taxes, quality of life, human resources, labor, education, infrastructure and incentive programs – the study’s authors indicate the best places to expand a business. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said that Kansas had made “smart investments” in schools, workers and in making strategic tax cuts – but that other changes would be necessary for the state to build on its momentum.
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ME – Baldacci to Welcome New Jobs. Gov. John Baldacci is expected to make an announcement about an international company that is opening its doors in Franklin County. The business will bring 50 jobs initially, with plans to expand to 200 once it’s fully operational. The company was drawn to Maine by its Pine Tree Zone incentives, work force and quality of life.
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OK – Henry Unveils New Emergency Operations Facility. A newly renovated, state of the art facility is now open at the state capitol. The Emergency Operations Center is the facility from which state resources are deployed during disaster and emergency times. “Today is a great day because we dedicate the new emergency operations center, which is absolutely critical and key to our coronation of emergency response and emergency management,” says Gov. Brad Henry.
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WV – Manchin Promotes Healthy Hearts For Kids Program. Gov. Joe Manchin paid a visit to Clendenin Elementary School to promote the Healthy Hearts For Kids program. The program was developed to help children learn more about cardiovascular health and the importance of physical activity and good nutrition. The Healthy Hearts For Kids program also stresses the importance of a tobacco-free lifestyle.
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