News

23
May
2000
For a detailed story on the May 2000 conference on genomics and life sciences sponsored by The Business Council and Cornell University, click here. Advances in many fields are being made possible by new knowledge in the life sciences in general, and genomics in particular, according to Steven Tanksley, a professor of plant breeding at Cornell University
12
May
2000
The Business Council's Manufacturing Council met this week to work on a new strategic plan, and to address key legislative and regulatory issues for the remainder of the year. The May 9 planning discussion centered on getting more participation by plant managers and other key executives in focused advocacy efforts
10
May
2000
Declaring that "this university can serve you as a powerful tool for economic development," State University of New York Chancellor Robert King told a Business Council audience this week that SUNY is creating a new position that will focus on helping the business community use university resources in economic development
10
May
2000
Cutting New York's taxes "has been Governor Pataki's constant focus every day, and it will remain so as long as he holds public office," the head the state Division of the Budget (DOB) told business and government leaders at The Business Council's Annual Dinner May 8 in Albany
08
May
2000
The noted economist John Maynard Keynes once said, "The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that carries any reward." He's almost right -- but there's just one thing better: cutting taxes, so that no more avoidance is needed. That has been Governor Pataki's constant focus every day, and it will remain so as long as he holds public office
05
May
2000
Arthur Roth, Commissioner of the state Department of Taxation and Finance, will be a featured speaker at The Business Council's annual Conference on State Taxation June 20-22 at the Sheraton in Saratoga Springs. Advance registration for this popular annual conference is strongly encouraged, said Ellen Muir, director of conference development for The Business Council
05
May
2000
The Legislature completed work on the 2000-01 state budget on Friday morning, May 5, enacting a long-sought repeal of the gross receipts tax on employers' energy utility bills. The final package also features a key last-minute addition, repeal of the state sales tax on transmission and distribution of gas and electricity for commercial customers
04
May
2000
The Business Council is urging state lawmakers to enact new workers' compensation reforms to enhance the reforms of 1996--and to reject new proposals that would inflate employers' workers' comp costs. Before the 1996 reforms, New York's comp costs were some 57 percent above the national average, said Kerry Kirwan, The Council's legislative analyst specializing in workers' comp
04
May
2000
ALBANY—Proposed school budgets in districts across New York State would increase property taxes at more than twice the inflation rate, at the same time districts are receiving a record $1.2 billion increase in aid from the state, a new "School Tax Watch" study by The Public Policy Institute of New York State finds
04
May
2000
The Chamber Alliance of New York State (CANYS) and The Business Council are planning a Washington "lobby day" for New York State's business community on June 14. This will be the first such lobby day in nearly a decade, according to Denise Murphy McGraw, executive director of CANYS and director of regional affairs for The Council