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2006 SMALL
BUSINESS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
Following is The Business Council's 2006 Legislative
Program. It identifies priority issues to be addressed by the
Committees and Councils during 2006.
Fundamental Changes
- Support initiatives to make health insurance more affordable
by a) allowing employers to purchase a foundation health plan
similar to Healthy New York, b) opposing new mandates and creating
a cost-benefit commission, c) allowing flexibility and choice
in benefit design by encouraging consumer-driven health plans,
and d) opposing cost-shifting from the direct pay market to the
small group market.
- Strongly oppose "play or pay" proposals
that call for steep, punishing new taxes on small businesses
that can not afford to purchase health insurance for their workers.
- Support
comprehensive legislation reforming New York State's costly civil
justice system.
- Support Repeal of the Estate Tax.
Other Changes
- Reduce employers' costs by enacting major reforms to
the worker's compensation system, such as amending the Worker's
Compensation Law to reduce costs of permanent partial disability
cases by establishing scheduled awards, implement objective medical
guidelines for the determination of disability cases, and reduce
assessments that support the second injury fund.
- Continue
to monitor the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund and advocate
and support the most economical option for employers' responsibility
to finance the UC Trust Fund.
- Support a requirement that
chambers of commerce be allowed to market and administer Healthy
New York and sole proprietor health insurance policies.
- Support
electronic commerce, but oppose any mandates on all businesses.
- Oppose
legislation that places smaller businesses at a competitive disadvantage
with bigger businesses.
- Support the collection of state
and local taxes on tobacco and motor fuels sold by Native American
tribal stores to non-Native Americans.
Click here for the 2006
Legislative Program for all Issue areas.
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