Three out of four New Yorkers say state government is doing a poor
or fair job overall, and 80 percent believe high taxes are hurting
the state's economic growth, a new poll commissioned by the Center
for Governmental Research (CGR) shows.
The poll of more than 2400 registered voters asked New Yorkers
for opinions on 20 issues impacting the state
The budget just enacted by Governor Pataki and the Legislature raises spending by nearly three times the inflation rate this year, and will force spending to jump 30 percent by 2008-09, Comptroller Alan Hevesi warned in a new report.
While criticizing the governor's budget proposal for unaffordable spending increases and too much borrowing, Comptroller Hevesi said the Legislature "made matters worse by increasing spending growth and the use of debt and one-shots, creating a two-year gap as high as $13
"The very
high costs that New York imposes on employers prevents the state from consistently
competing for national or international projects. Until New York becomes
a lower cost state, Upstate New York’s economy will continue to deteriorate.
The additional cost that would be added to this already heavy burden by
these ill-conceived legislative proposals would add significantly to Upstate’s
economic distress
Testimony of
Elliott A. Shaw, Jr.
Director of Government Affairs
The Business Council of New York State, Inc.
Assembly Standing Committees on Health, Insurance and Labor
Proposals for Mandated Health Care Coverage
May 23, 2006
Chairwoman John, Chairman Gottfried, Chairman Grannis and members of the Assembly Health, Insurance and Labor Committees, thank you for inviting The Business Council to offer comments on so-called fair share legislation
ALBANY—Noting that New York State is losing jobs and people to
other states at alarming rates, some five dozen business groups from around
the state have written to state legislators pleading for post-budget action
on an "Action for Jobs '06" policy agenda that addresses key
issues in health insurance, workplace safety, and fiscal refoyrm
ALBANY—New York’s heath-care policy is in need of a fix,
but the solution can’t be found in any of the so-called Wal-Mart
proposals being considered by lawmakers, the Business Council’s
director of government affairs told lawmakers at a May 23 hearing in Albany
ALBANY—A diverse group of organizations and individuals will outline
an agenda to address New York's population losses and build jobs and the
state's economy at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, in the LCA press
room (Room 130) in the Legislative Office Building in Albany.
The Business Council and some five dozen other organizations in the group
have written to lawmakers pleading for post-budget action on a agenda
that addresses key issues in health insurance, workplace safety, and fiscal
reform
The Business Council is urging Governor Pataki to veto a bill that would add an estimated 52,000 workers to the state payroll and could threaten some $300 million in federal aid.
The bill, S.6758, passed the Senate unanimously in March and was approved by the Assembly in late April after a lobbying campaign led by the United Federation of Teachers
A new Massachusetts law designed to make health insurance coverage
nearly universal in the Bay State has a chance to succeed in pioneering
a broad new approach to health insurance policy if it is properly
implemented, a leading taxpayer advocate from Massachusetts told
Council members on May 10
The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is accepting
applications for the third annual Environmental Excellence awards.
The department said the awards recognize New York businesses, government,
non-for-profit organizations, education institutions and individuals
“that are achieving environmental excellence through innovation,
sustainable practices or creative partnerships