The non-partisan Tax Foundation released their 2009 State Business Tax Climate Index earlier this week, and Minnesota was in the spotlight. Minnesota made the list of the ten WORST states for businesses, coming in at 41 - not exactly the place we want to be in today's already sluggish economy.

The foundation notes, "The modern market is characterized by mobile capital and labor. Therefore, companies will locate where they have the greatest competitive advantage. States with the best tax systems will be the most competitive in attracting new businesses and most effective at generating economic and employment growth."

The Index has been published yearly since 2003. It ranks states based on the taxes that matter most to businesses and business investment: corporate tax, individual income tax, sales tax, unemployment tax and property tax.  The states are scored on these taxes, and the scores are weighted based on the relative importance or impact of the tax to a business.

For more background on their findings, click here.

To read the full report, click here.