ALBANY—Eliot Spitzer, New York State attorney general, and candidate for the 2006 Democratic nomination for governor, will address New York State business leaders Wednesday evening, September 21, during The Business Council's Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will take place Wednesday-Friday Sept. 21-23 at the Sagamore in Bolton Landing, Warren County.

State Comptroller Alan Hevesi is also scheduled to speak at the meeting. His remarks are set for 9 a.m. Thursday, September 22.

The annual discussion of policy issues that affect New York's business climate will also include panel discussions on the proposed Constitutional amendment that would alter the state’s budget process (which The Business Council opposes) and a panel discussion on global trade issues and New York’s place in the global market.

Agenda highlights include:

• A debate on the proposed Constitutional amendment that is being marketed to voters as “reform” of the state’s budget process. This session is scheduled to begin around 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23.
  
  Scheduled participants include: David Little, director of government relations for the New York State School Boards Association, and Assemblyman Patrick Manning (R-Dutchess County). Kevin Walter, an editorial writer for the Buffalo News, will moderate the discussion.
  
  In November, voters will decide whether or not to alter the state’s constitution to give the Legislature unprecedented powers over the state’s budget process. If passed, the amendment will have significant implications for New York’s finance and economy.
  
• Presentation of the prestigious Corning Award for Excellence to Daniel Carp, chairman of Eastman Kodak Corporation. The presentation will take place during dinner festivities beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21. For details on the award, visit www.bcnys.org/whatsnew/2005/0909pca.htm.
  
• Remarks by Howard Mills, the superintendent of the state Department of Insurance. He is scheduled to speak around 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23. Superintendent Mill’s remarks will be given at a Government Affairs Council meeting. He is expected to address the future of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.
  
• A panel discussion on global trade and issues related to the global economy. This session is scheduled to begin around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22.
  
  Scheduled participants in the discussion include: state Assemblyman Joseph Morelle (D-Rochester); Gregory Harden, president and CEO of Harden Furniture Company of Oneida County; and Thomas M.T. Niles, the vice chairman of the United States Council for International Business. Rex Smith, editor of the Albany Times Union, will moderate the discussion.

Background on The Council's Annual Meeting: The Business Council's Annual Meeting each year attracts about 500 of the top business and government leaders in the state for discussions on issues of importance to the state's business community. The meeting is open to all Business Council members.

The Business Council is New York's largest broad-based business group, representing nearly 4,000 member companies large and small across the state. Based in Albany, it lobbies for a better business climate and offers cost-cutting services to its members. Council members represent employers of well over 1 million New Yorkers in all parts of the state and all sectors of business, industry, education, and not-for-profit activity.

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