The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
has $1.6 million available for energy efficiency projects in three categories:
Feasibility studies that identify and encourage implementation of cost-effective
energy-efficiency measures for public and private facilities
Business Council members have been mailed a new "HMO Report Card" produced
by business to help employers evaluate and choose HMOs that offer health-care
benefits to employees.
The report card was developed by the New York State Health Accountability
Foundation, a consortium of employers committed to value in health care
Business Council members are urging lawmakers to reject a proposed new
health-care mandate that would require employers' health-insurance benefits
to cover infertility treatments.
"This legislation is among the most expensive mandates of the dozens
under consideration by the legislature this year," The Council told members
in an "urgent alert" sent June 22 urging them to voice their opposition
to the bill
Senator James Alesi (R-Monroe) and Assemblyman Robin Schimminger (D-Erie)
have introduced legislation that would allow Industrial Development Agencies
(IDAs) to offer reduced-rate power as an incentive to companies considering
locating or expanding in New York through IDA-funded projects
The Public Policy Institute, The Business Council's research affiliate,
has created its own web site, www.ppinys.org.
The Institute's new home page includes a brief description of The Institute
as well as the complete text of its research reports, facts and figures
on New York's economy, and press releases
Bulletin #14: June 22, 1999
More school aid from Albany won't cut property taxes
It's clear that the new state budget will include another big increase in school aid. According to data from the New York State School Boards Association, Governor Pataki's budget would bring total aid to $11
Bulletin #13: June 15, 1999
Hospitals want still more money. How much is enough?
How much could ever be enough money for New York hospitals? Based on the complaints from the hospital lobbyists and unions, there seems to be no answer. After all, New York is already the leader in state spending on hospitals, well ahead of larger states such as California and Texas
The Public Policy Institute, The
Business Councils research affiliate, has taken the New York Times to
task for two recent stories on tort reform.
The Institute, strongly criticized the two stories in a letter to
the Times June 8.
He noted that a June 6 story cited tort-reform advocates "misleading" use
of anecdotes
The Business Council has formed a new committee that will focus on electronic
commerce.
Edmund F. Perry, director of government relations and growth strategies
for IBM and former director of government affairs for The Business Council,
will serve as the first chair of the "e-commerce"committee
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Wednesday proposed a "Health Care Reform
Act 2000 " that would:
Increase state aid to hospitals and create a new government-funded
health insurance plan for some 300,000 adult New Yorkers.
Expand support for graduate medical education by increasing the funding
to account for inflation