HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Senate Democratic leaders want to give Connecticut companies an advantage over out-of-state firms competing for state contracts.

They say some of those companies come from states with laws on the books that make it difficult or impossible for Connecticut firms to compete for state contracts.

For example, they say a Michigan printing company can win a state contract in Connecticut, but a Connecticut printing company cannot do the same there because Michigan only allows in-state firms to bid on state printing contracts.

Senate President Donald Williams says 20 states have preferences for hiring in-state companies.

He hopes to enact a reciprocal preference law this session. It would say that whenever an out-of-state company bids on a Connecticut project, it should be treated the same way that out-of-state firms are treated back home.

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