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
STATEMENT FROM
BUSINESS COUNCIL PRESIDENT DANIEL B. WALSH
Senator Bruno's vision of tort reform in New York would make the Empire State
a more prosperous state-and a more just one.
For too long, lawsuit abuse in New York State has cost New Yorkers billions
of dollars a year in higher costs of health care and insurance, and needlessly
inflated local taxes
ALBANYRaymond San Fratello, president of the Genesee County Chamber
of Commerce, has been elected chairman of the Chamber Alliance of New York
State (CANYS). He succeeds Elizabeth Coleman, president of the Greater Southern
Dutchess Chamber of Commerce.
San Fratello has led the Genesee County Chamber for 12 years
ALBANYClosing Indian Point Energy Center would have significant negative
effects on the state and regional economy because closing the plant would
drastically reduce New York's electricity supply, The Business Council has
told a consultant evaluating safety issues associated with Indian Point
ALBANYThe Business Council has launched a statewide print advertising
campaign this week to remind lawmakers that higher taxes kill job growth.
"More taxes or more jobs? That's the choice facing New York," the ad says.
"Some groups are already campaigning in Albany to raise your taxes," the
ad says
ALBANYElementary schools in Westchester, Nassau, Washington, and Ulster counties will receive The Business Council's 2003 Pathfinder Award in separate ceremonies in February. The award honors schools that show the most improvement from one year to the next as measured by their students' scores on standardized tests