State Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, remembers a time when Missouri led the nation in job losses. During 2004, about 70,000 Missourians reported being unemployed at some point.

But since then, Crowell said the job market has greatly improved.

Roughly 92,000 jobs have been created since 2005. Unemployment in Cape Girardeau County has been reduced to 3.6 percent, lower than the national average of 5 percent. And since 2007, 191 businesses have been started in the county.

Crowell credited the hard work of business owners in the community for the accomplishment.

"Four years ago a debate ensued over the issue that services for individuals couldn't be provided by the state without raising taxes," Crowell said Friday morning at the monthly First Friday Coffee in Cape Girardeau. "But I said you wouldn't have to raise taxes in order for the state to become more economically competitive. It's important to point out that we now have more Missourians paying fewer taxes instead of less Missourians paying more taxes."

The job creation effort was one of several accomplishments Crowell highlighted during his legislative update at the event inside the Show Me Center. It usually is held the first Friday of each month, but because its normal meeting day fell on July 4, organizers pushed the meeting back a week.

Crowell reminded business leaders in attendance of another economic milestone, House Bill 2393. The legislation created $240 million in tax incentives for projects that could invest more than $300 million back into the economy. This bill, Crowell said, was created with the intent of attracting Bombardier, a Canadian-based aircraft manufacturer.

Later, Crowell addressed the issue of illegal immigration. In House Bill 1549, the legislature outlined its stance on illegal immigration. Sponsored by Crowell, the legislation denies illegal immigrants the ability to obtain a Missouri driver's license.

He said the move was not because the legislature is racist, but rather a statement that Missouri will not tolerate a threat to its residents' job security.

"We have halted illegal immigration in Missouri," Crowell said. "We won't sit idly by while the federal government doesn't deliver on this critical issue."

In addition to Crowell's speech, business leaders had an opportunity to visit the 42-foot Microsoft Across America Truck, which was parked outside the Show Me Center.

Microsoft employees, along with Technology and Networking workers, were on hand to explain new available technologies such as software to scan business cards and Dynamics CRM, which allows company executives to monitor employees' computer activity during the workday.

Technology and Networking -- a provider of computer network design, implementation and maintenance services in Cape Girardeau -- brought the truck to the event because of its gold status with Microsoft.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

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