Riley praises job growth in region

At chamber event he makes pitch for proposed tax cuts

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com

Gov. Bob Riley put in a plug for his "Plan 2010: Our Vision for Alabama" here Tuesday, calling it a "blueprint to allow Alabama to achieve that level of greatness we've never had."

Riley, who was sworn in last week for a second term as governor, spoke to a crowd of more than 1,300 at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce's 71st annual membership meeting.

Riley again praised this area's economic development success, saying, "North Alabama is truly in a peer class of its own." This community, he said, is "on the cusp of magnificence" and has "reached the point today where you can be the best of the best."

He cited the chamber's figures for 2006 showing that 48 new and expanding employers in Huntsville-Madison County in primary business sectors - including manufacturing, services and research - resulted in Huntsville-Madison County leading the state with 4,602 announced jobs.

Madison County has been ranked No. 1 in the state in announced jobs eight of the past 10 years.

Huntsville also claimed Alabama's largest employment announcement last year when Verizon Wireless announced plans to build a $44 million, 152,000-square-foot state headquarters and customer service center in Thornton Research Park. The center is scheduled to be completed late this year and is expected to have about 1,300 employees by the end of 2008.

Plan 2010, which presents Riley's legislative goals for this term, is outlined in a 91-page booklet.

"We can do all of this if ... we put partisan politics aside," he said. "To make this happen, it truly is up to the Legislature instead of the governor."

Riley wants to expand tax cuts to the middle class, taking in families earning up to $100,000 - or about 90 percent of Alabamians - and increase the threshold for paying state income taxes to $15,000.

Other key parts include continuing the state sales-tax holiday; exempting the first $10,000 in retirement income from state income taxes; eliminating the state sales tax on over-the-counter medicines; allowing small businesses to deduct twice the amount that they pay for health insurance premiums from their state income taxes; and expanding the income-tax credit for businesses to hire people with special employment needs.

Riley has said the proposal to cut income taxes for middle-class families would protect schools from state-mandated budget cuts and would require the state to spend more on education each year before the cut took effect.

Riley asked those at the chamber meeting to follow and take part in the debate over the proposals during the next session of the Legislature, which begins March 6.



Riley praises job growth in region At chamber event he makes pitch for proposed tax cuts Wednesday, January 24, 2007 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer marian.accardi@htimes.com Gov. Bob Riley put in a plug for his "Plan 2010: Our Vision for Alabama" here Tuesday, calling it a "blueprint to allow Alabama to achieve that level of greatness we've never had." Riley, who was sworn in last week for a second term as governor, spoke to a crowd of more than 1,300 at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce's 71st annual membership meeting. Riley again praised this area's economic development success, saying, "North Alabama is truly in a peer class of its own." This community, he said, is "on the cusp of magnificence" and has "reached the point today where you can be the best of the best." He cited the chamber's figures for 2006 showing that 48 new and expanding employers in Huntsville-Madison County in primary business sectors - including manufacturing, services and research - resulted in Huntsville-Madison County leading the state with 4,602 announced jobs. Madison County has been ranked No. 1 in the state in announced jobs eight of the past 10 years. Huntsville also claimed Alabama's largest employment announcement last year when Verizon Wireless announced plans to build a $44 million, 152,000-square-foot state headquarters and customer service center in Thornton Research Park. The center is scheduled to be completed late this year and is expected to have about 1,300 employees by the end of 2008. Plan 2010, which presents Riley's legislative goals for this term, is outlined in a 91-page booklet. "We can do all of this if ... we put partisan politics aside," he said. "To make this happen, it truly is up to the Legislature instead of the governor." Riley wants to expand tax cuts to the middle class, taking in families earning up to $100,000 - or about 90 percent of Alabamians - and increase the threshold for paying state income taxes to $15,000. Other key parts include continuing the state sales-tax holiday; exempting the first $10,000 in retirement income from state income taxes; eliminating the state sales tax on over-the-counter medicines; allowing small businesses to deduct twice the amount that they pay for health insurance premiums from their state income taxes; and expanding the income-tax credit for businesses to hire people with special employment needs. Riley has said the proposal to cut income taxes for middle-class families would protect schools from state-mandated budget cuts and would require the state to spend more on education each year before the cut took effect. Riley asked those at the chamber meeting to follow and take part in the debate over the proposals during the next session of the Legislature, which begins March 6. © 2007 The Huntsville Times © 2007 al.com All Rights Reserved.