FY 2009 New York State Budget

Council's Budget Campaign

• Joint Statement from The Business Council, The Partnership for New York City, and the New York Bankers' Association:  “We strongly oppose any new taxes on the business community of New York State at this time of extreme economic pressure, particularly on financial services firms. We urge the Governor and the State Legislature to consider other alternatives to resolve the State’s budget gap.” (April 2, 2008)
• Business Council president & CEO Kenneth Adams' statement regarding State Budget impacts on New York's financial industry: "The proposed new burdens on the financial industry are going to have immediate impacts on New York businesses and consumers alike. As we face a growing crisis on Wall Street and a faltering national economy, now is not the time to impose additional hardships on the banking and financial services sectors that serve as the bedrock of New York’s economy.” (April 2, 2008)
• Business Council president & CEO Kenneth Adams' statement on the FY 2009 New York State Budget: "it is hard not to look at the FY 2009 budget as a missed opportunity for New York to change course and get back on the right fiscal track." (April 1, 2008)
• Business Council blitzes lawmakers with budget message: Raising taxes is not the answer, press release on radio ad/ no new taxes campaign. The Council has launched the third wave in its media blitz to state lawmakers, calling for additional reductions in state spending and no new taxes or fees in the FY09 budget. (March 28, 2008)
• “Tough Budget Choices” radio ad, playing under heavy rotation in Albany media
  market (March 28, 2008)
• CANYS Board, Chambers of Commerce Oppose New Taxes As Part of State Budget. The Chamber Alliance of New York State, along with 34 chambers of commerce representing business owners across the state, urged lawmakers to enact an economically competitive state budget by reducing spending and avoiding new taxes and fees. (March 28, 2008)
• Business Council President & CEO Kenneth Adams responds to "framework" budget deal: Kenneth Adams, President and CEO of The Business Council, said the Council’s member companies still had concerns with the prospect of new fees and the State’s overall level of spending. “In these difficult economic times, placing additional financial burdens on those who employ millions of New Yorkers is clearly not the answer.” (March 28, 2008)
• “Tough fiscal times mean tough budget choices … at least in New Jersey, Florida and
  California” lit-drop to full Legislature (March 27, 2008)
• Buffalo News op-ed lit drop to full Legislature (March 26, 2008)
• Business Council and Partnership for New York City's joint letter on taxes in the 2008
  State Budget (March 26, 2008)
• “Paterson starts well, but must keep state competitive” (Buffalo News op-ed by
  Kenneth Adams) (March 20, 2008)
• “New York’s business community is not the government’s bank, and the state budget is not its ATM card” print ad in the March 17 edition of the Legislative Gazette (March
  17, 2008)
• Health care taxes ad co-signed by The Business Council and 35 other groups: print ad that ran in the Albany Times-Union (March 13 and March 18, 2008)
• “Council applauds Senate proposal to cap state spending” (March 11, 2008)
• “NY'S BUDGET BLUES” (New York Post op-ed by Kenneth Adams)
  New York is continuing to spend and tax too much, even in the face of a possible recession, writes Business Council President. "Now is the time to start taking steps toward a new budget discipline for New York - one that balances taxes and spending with a competitive and prosperous private-sector economy." (March 10, 2008)
• Kenneth Adams Live Appearance on Fred Dicker show, AM-1300, Albany (March 10,
  2008)
• Business Council statement on Assembly tax proposal (March 6, 2008)
• “Lawmakers should control spending and resist closing budget gaps with increased
  taxes and fees, Council testifies” (Kenneth Adams testimony at joint legislative hearing on the budget) (February 11, 2008)

How New York's state budget has grown
A look at the growth of the New York state budget since Democrat Mario Cuomo took office in 1983 as governor, Republican George Pataki took over in 1995, Democrat Eliot Spitzer became governor in 2007, and Democrat David Paterson became governor in March of 2008.