New York State government's per-capita spending in
2005 was the fourth highest in the nation and 43 percent
above the national average, a Public Policy Institute analysis
of new Census Bureau data shows.
The new data detailed the revenue and spending of all 50
states (including certain public authorities, but not including
local governments) in 2005
A proposed change to the state's labor law would
diminish unions' incentives to negotiate with employers
and increase employers' unemployment insurance costs,
the Business Council said in a memo filed in opposition
to the proposed legislation
The Business Council strongly supports the business tax
reform plan initiated by Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno,
which will reduce state-imposed business costs by $1.3 billion
a year when fully implemented, the Council said in a memo
filed in support of the legislation
Governor Spitzer's first Executive Budget calls for reducing growth in Medicaid spending, providing the largest-ever increase in school spending, and raising $600 million by closing "loopholes" in business taxes.
"This budget makes targeted investments in our future, provides overdue property tax relief to middle class homeowners and drives resources to communities in need," Governor Spitzer said
Governor Spitzer has proposed a tough new education reform
strategy that would, for the first time, tie increased
state school aid to firm standards for accountability
and for results.
“My vision for education reform is built on a
single premise,” the Governor said
The number of New Yorkers receiving taxpayer-subsized health insurance continues to grow while the number of those with employer-provided insurance continues to decline, according to a new analysis of Census Bureau data by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.
“These findings are a disturbing reflection of our upstate economy and a growing burden to taxpayers statewide,” said David Klein, chief executive officer for upstate New York's largest nonprofit health plan with nearly 2 million customers
New York must create a "patients first" health-care system by restraining Medicaid spending on hospitals and nursing homes, eliminating wasteful funding for graduate medical education and promoting wider use of health information technology, Governor Eliot Spitzer said.
The state will also seek to expand the Child Health Plus program to cover 400,000 uninsured children, make it easier for adults to qualify for Medicaid coverage and seek to limit pharmaceutical spending, Governor Spitzer said in a preview of the health-related budget proposals he will make next week
New York ranks near the middle of the states for economic
performance, business vitality and development capacity,
a new analysis of state economies has found.
The Corporation for Enterprise Development's (CFED)
analysis, 2007 Development Report Card for the States,
measures 67 criteria to rank states' economic performance
and future economic potential
This story originally appeared in the January 2007
issue of Business Council Connect,
the Council's monthly newsletter for members.
In Buffalo, Curtis Screw Co. LLC pays more than $4,000
per employee – a total of $1 million a year –
for workers' compensation
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