Government Affairs Albany Update
June 19, 2009
- End of Session Issues
- Shareholder Participation Legislation
- McCall to Address Council
- Federal Transportation Reauthorization
- Annual "Golf Classic"
The Business Council highlighted “must do” and “must stop” bills this week, as the 2009 session heads toward its scheduled adjournment next week. Citing continued economic problems, the Council urged the legislature to avoid imposing additional costs on private sector employers. Significant anti-job bills include:
- A.3659/S.1241, which would impose multiple wage mandates on IDA financed projects.
- A.8742/S.5791, mandating employers to provide paid family leave, making New York one of only four states with such a requirement.
- A.8100, substantially raise unemployment-insurance taxes by 15 percent to pay for increased, indexed benefits.
- A.8646/S.5768, that would substantially broaden the state’s Martin Act to allow the plaintiff’s bar to bring suit against business for alleged violations of the state’s securities law.
The Council also urged the Legislature to act on key economic development proposals, including:
- A.5700/S.2898, restoring the ability of IDA’s to fund “civic facilities” projects, and allow $2.5 billion in planned projects to move forward.
- A.8803/S.5598A, that would assure continuation of Empire Zone benefits to businesses that have met their legal obligations and have made significant investments and added jobs in the state.
- S.5839, to extend the Power for Jobs and Economic Development Power programs for another year, through June 30, 2010.
Our press release is available here; the detailed issue summary is available here.
Staff contact: heather.briccetti@bcnys.org
Shareholder Participation Legislation
The Council is again opposing legislation, A.1567 ( Brodsky)/ S.5793 (Krueger) that would require New York State incorporated businesses to provide for remote shareholder participation in shareholder meetings. The bill has passed the Assembly, and was recently introduced in the Senate by Senator Liz Krueger. It requires publicly traded corporations to adopt “reasonable measures” to permit shareholders to attend meetings via remote communication and to be deemed present for voting purposes. The bill text, and our memo in opposition, is available here. We urge you to review this bill for potential impact on your business, provide us with your comments, and reach out to your State Senators to express your opposition.
Staff contact: walter.pacholczak@bcnys.org
The Business Council of New York State is hosting a forum with special guest speakers H. Carl McCall and Samara Barend of the NYS Commission on State Asset Maximization. Mr. McCall and Ms. Barend will discuss the findings of the final report from the Commission about specific New York assets that are suitable for Public-Private Partnerships.
The final report contains 27 major recommendations to help create jobs, generate economic activity and benefit colleges and universities across New York State. The recommendations span six asset classes including transportation, social infrastructure, higher education, energy, information technology and underutilized property.
This joint meeting of the Council’s Construction, Transportation and Financial Services Committees will be held July 8, 2009, from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. at our offices at 12 Corporate Woods Boulevard, 2nd floor, Albany. Click here to register for this meeting.
Staff contact: walter.pacholczak@bcnys.org
Federal Transportation Reauthorization
While the Obama Administration proposed on Wednesday a short-term, 18 month extension of the SAFETEA-LU, House leaders vowed to move ahead with a six-year, $500 billion transportation reauthorization bill, rather than accept an 18-month extension of current programs with modest modifications. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (MN-08) and Ranking Member John Mica (FL-07), and Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman Peter DeFazio (OR-04) and Ranking Member John Duncan (TN-02) unveiled a Blueprint for the Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009.
According to the executive summary, the Blueprint "will transform federal surface transportation from an amalgamation of prescriptive programs to a performance-based framework for intermodal transportation investment. The Blueprint is designed to achieve specific national objectives: reduce fatalities and injuries on our nation's highways; unlock the congestion that cripples major cities and the freight transportation network; provide transportation choices for commuters and travelers; limit the adverse effects of transportation on the environment; and promote public health and the livability of our communities."
Staff contact: maggie.moree@bcnys.org
Hall of Famer “Goose” Gossage will be the featured guest at The Business Council of New York State’s Second Annual Business Council Member Golf Classic, to be held Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at the Otesaga Hotel’s Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown. Participants will start at 11:30 am with a buffet lunch followed by scramble golf. There will be a reception and dinner at the Otesaga followed by a dessert reception at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Gossage will be the keynote speaker at the Dessert Reception and meet informally with those attending the event. Event information, and online registration, is available here.
Staff contact: ellen.muir@bcnys.org