Text of a letter sent to New York State's Congressional Delegation from Daniel B. Walsh dated March 5, 2003
DANIEL B. WALSH
Honorable Charles Schumer
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Schumer:
RE: A tax plan that will boost New York
Congress has the opportunity to enact legislation that will drive billions of dollars to New York State, provide a major boost to one of our most important industries, and create new jobs for both highly educated and lower-skilled workers in the state
The
state Senate has approved a bill that would enact a top tort-reform
priority of The Business Council: repeal of the state's "vicarious
liability" laws.
Under
vicarious liability, companies that lease cars can be held
liable for unlimited monetary damages if the cars are involved
in accidents, regardless of fault
The Republican Senate Majority has proposed mandate relief
and tort reform as key parts of a sweeping proposal to help
local governments operate better and cut costs.
"This package of budget and legislative proposals represents
real relief from frivolous lawsuits, increased pension costs,
growing Medicaid expenses and a broad range of other mandates
that are costing local governments and taxpayers billions
of dollars," Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno said
Gov.
George Pataki has modified his budget to eliminate a requirement
that municipalities pay half the cost of new property tax
breaks offered in Empire Zones.
The
Business Council strongly supports this change to the Governor's
Executive Budget, which the Governor proposed in his 30-day
amendments
ALBANYNew York's businesses continue to shoulder a heavy tax burden, both in real numbers and as a percentage of all taxes paidso lawmakers should enact a state budget that holds spending to responsible levels, preserves enacted tax cuts, and avoids new taxes, Business Council President Daniel B
Senate Finance Committee and
Assembly Ways and Means Committee
February 26, 2003
Chairman Johnson, Chairman Farrell and distinguished members of the committees, thank you for inviting us to appear before you today.
I want to start by congratulating the Senate and Assembly for the work you have done, for nine straight years now, to improve the lives of New Yorkers by cutting taxes on our businesses and our workers
The
nation paid $205 billion to defend and pay liability claims
in 2001, $25 billion more than the previous year and a 50-year
record, a new study has found.
This
cost is $721 per U.S. citizen and represents a 14
U.S.
Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-New Hartford) has proposed a $2.1
billion national research initiative in nanotechnology-an
initiative that could mean a substantial increase in federal
high-tech research funding for New York State institutions
More
than 3,500 New Yorkers affiliated with local and regional
chambers of commerce have responded to a new electronic-advocacy
campaign designed to convince lawmakers to restrain state
spending and reject higher taxes
Business Council's Prestigious Award Honors Schools for Educational Improvement
ALBANYElementary
schools in Manhattan and in Westchester, Niagara, Nassau, Washington,
St. Lawrence, Cortland, and Ulster counties will receive The Business Council's
2003 Pathfinder Award in separate ceremonies in February