Rich States; Poor States

As states face their toughest budgetary climates in a generation, the authors of a new report by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) point out what states should do to alleviate the fiscal pain, and also what they should avoid. The third edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index shows how many states responded to the economic crisis with higher taxes, new spending, and more debt. Instead of continuing down this road to a financial meltdown, the authors outline the steps states can take to bring about economic recovery.

Those steps include enactment of state Right to Work laws that promote worker’s choice and prosperity. Four of the top five states ranked by the book for good economic conditions are Right to Work states.