Virginia is considering legislation to...

...prohibit work on state contracts from being performed overseas?
YES, does not include foreign call centers

... require overseas call centers to identify their location over the phone to consumers? NO

Rate of unemployment (April 2004):
3.4%, below national average

Higher unemployment (as of April 2004) since recession began in March 2001? YES

Pending bills and their descriptions, quoted from TechsUnite.org:

House Bill 1010, introduced Feb. 3, 2004, "provides that no public body shall enter into any contract for professional services unless the contract provides that only citizens of the United States, legal resident aliens, and individuals with a valid visa will perform the services under the contract or any subcontract of that contract."

House Bill 243 "provides that in determining the award of any contract for goods or nonprofessional services, state agencies must give preference to goods produced in the United States, or to goods or nonprofessional services provided by U.S.-based firms or corporations, so long as the bid price of such firm or corporation is not more than 20 percent greater than the bid price of the low responsive and responsible foreign-based firm or corporation." Date of introduction not given.

House Bill 315, introduced Feb. 3, 2004, "provides that in awarding contracts in excess of $500,000 for the procurement of goods or services, state public bodies must give a 3 percent preference to any person with facilities located in Virginia that manufacture, develop, produce, grow, mine, or make such goods or services."

Senate Bill 151, also introduced Feb. 3, 2004, contains the same provisions as House Bill 243.

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Sources: TechsUnite.org, The Economic Policy Institute, CNN/Money, CNet News.Com