Some more bad news for Jill Long

CNBC's America's Top States for Business 2008 report recently called Indiana the Most Improved State for Business:

"This year's Most Improved State for Business is Indiana, which jumps 13 places to number 13. Indiana improved in eight of our 10 categories, with its biggest jump in the Economy category, rising to number 37 from number 48. Indiana's reliance on commodities-both agricultural and industrial-helped improve the state's economy from its near-bottom ranking last year."

Mitch has never been bashful in declaring jobs as his #1 priority. The results are showing.

The survey scored all 50 states - using publicly available data - on 40 different measures of competitiveness. States received points based on their rankings in each metric. Then, they separated those metrics into 10 broad categories, with input from business groups including the National Association of Manufacturers.

They weighted the categories based on how frequently each is cited in state economic development marketing materials.Indiana improved in eight of its 10 categories, with its biggest jump in the "economy" category, rising to 37th from No. 48. Indiana's reliance on commodities -- both agricultural and industrial -- helped improve the state's economy from its near-bottom ranking last year.Another reason Indiana moved up from an overall score of 26th in 2007?

CNBC said Indiana is No. 3 based on the perceived "friendliness" of their legal and regulatory frameworks to business. Our state is also ranked fourth for transportation.