News

24
Jun
1998
The Business Council has scored a major victory on one of its top legislative priorities: a comprehensive unemployment insurance (UI) reform bill. Governor Pataki is expected to sign the bill, which would: Create new, more balanced UI tax tables. Reform disqualification procedures so all employers whose accounts might be tapped for benefits can introduce disqualifying evidence in an applicant's benefits hearing
24
Jun
1998
Employers oppose new government intrusion into the health-care market because private-sector efforts have improved quality and held back the growth in health costs, Business Council staff told national journalists at two recent forums
19
Jun
1998
ALBANY — A new agreement between The Business Council and the New York State AFL-CIO on a bill to reform the state's unemployment insurance (UI) system "will bring New York's unemployment insurance system into the 21st century and save employers millions of dollars in the process," according to Daniel B
11
Jun
1998
As the Legislative session nears an adjournment scheduled for June 18, The Council is sustaining its efforts to convince lawmakers to reject a bill that would expand HMO liability. The bill would impose a new and higher liability standard for decisions that arise from a health-care contract, said Elliott A
11
Jun
1998
The Business Council has asked its members to join the call for tort reform to curtail New York's out-of-control lawsuit industry-and members are responding in significant numbers. Business Council President Daniel B. Walsh urged over 1,200 manufacturing members to write to lawmakers urging them to support tort reform and to reject proposals to expand liability
11
Jun
1998
Robert Tarnow, a founder of The Business Council and a longtime executive of Goulds Pumps in Seneca Falls, died on June 2. Tarnow expanded Goulds Pumps into the global marketplace and increased its revenues more than 12-fold during his tenure as its president, chief executive officer and chairman
11
Jun
1998
Thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in state and local tax revenues face an uncertain future unless lawmakers pass a bill to let mutual life insurance companies change their corporate structure, the Council said Wednesday. Unless lawmakers pass this bill, New York's mutual life companies will have strong incentives to create new jobs and to move existing ones out of state, said Business Council President Daniel B
11
Jun
1998
A bill that would mandate "mental health parity" in employee health benefits in New York will be discussed at the next meeting of The Business Council's Labor and Human Resources Committee.The meeting will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, June 24 at Business Council headquarters in Albany
11
Jun
1998
The Council is urging legislators to pass a bill to nullify a tax on the re-sale of electricity-a tax that is an unintended effect of the deregulation of New York's electricity markets. The sale of electricity is now subject to a one-time tax of .75 percent, said Kevin Lanahan, The Council's specialist in energy issues
10
Jun
1998
ALBANY — Thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in state and local tax revenues face an uncertain future if New York's state Legislature fails to pass legislation to allow mutual life insurance companies to change their corporate structure, the state's leading business organization said today