In response to member opinions expressed in the 2006 Fall Issues Survey, The Business Council has unveiled its 2007 priority agenda, based on members' most pressing concerns.
The agenda is presented in New York Alive; An agenda to put New York State back on the road to economic growth. The brochure identifies Council members most pressing concerns, and what can be done to help New York businesses in those areas.
“The
Business Council, New York's statewide business organization,
tapped the expertise of almost 1,100 of its members to identify
top priorities for action,” the brochure says. “This
is their agenda—an agenda to bring New York alive.”
Because Council members ranked cost-of-doing-business issues in New York as their greatest concerns, the Council is prioritizing five cost issues on the agenda. Those include:
- Employee health care: “With the cost growth 10-20 percent a year, health insurance is becoming unaffordable for more and more employers – putting more workers in danger of losing their coverage,” the brochure says. “We must make the health-care system more efficient.”
- Workers' comp reform: “New York has high employer costs – yet relatively low maximum benefits for injured workers,” the brochure says. “We can fix this.”
- Energy costs: “Electric rates in New York run 70 percent above the national average,” the brochure notes. “We need more generating capacity to bid the cost down – and we need to direct low-cost power to employers and growth industries.”
- Business taxes: “New York State taxes on business are well above the national average,” the brochure says. “Sound reforms can have a big impact on our competitiveness.”
- Liability insurance and lawsuits: “New York's Scaffolding Law, which imposes absolute liability on building owners, is a lawsuit generator that's unique in the nation – and it's having a major impact on the cost of construction,” the brochure says. “Time to repeal it.”
Council members said economic development issues was the second-highest priority area for them. The Council identified three issues from this area for action, including:
- Economic development programs and incentives:
“We need smart investments that focus on
high-technology industries and long-term growth prospects
– not on quick headlines and cronyism,” the
brochure says.
- Workforce development and training:
“As the economy changes, workers need constant upgrading
of their knowledge and skills,” the brochure sway.
“Governmental Job-training programs must be streamlined
and focused on employer needs and the jobs of the future
rather than be scattered amongst the agencies for a myriad
of isolated purposes for which no one is accountable.”
- Innovation, science and technology: “New York must invest in its research universities, improve the teaching of math and science, and give students better guidance on how to qualify for high-paying science and technology jobs,” the brochure says.
Government also needs to be reformed, Council members said in the Fall Issues Survey:
Consolidation: Develop consolidation plans that will lower the cost of local government and cut property taxes, the brochure says.
Debt: New York needs to reform its runaway debt practices, and curb the abuse of borrowing powers by unelected public authorities.
For a copy of the brochure, email [email protected].