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ALBANY— New York State's one-of-a-kind $2.7 billion in annual
surcharges to subsidize hospital costs drive up the cost of health
care for all New Yorkers and undermine the state's economic competitiveness,
a new report argues
By R. Carlos Carballada
Imagine an inexperienced athlete who trains for the Boston marathon
by ambling around the block once a day. Ideally, some coach would insist
on a more rigorous regimen to prepare for such a demanding competition.
Now suppose this athlete's coach said: Yes, you should train harder
New poll data show that New York's teachers strongly support the movement
to raise student achievement, according to New York Teacher, a publication
of the state's largest teachers' union.
"In fact, New York state teachers lead the nation in support for higher
standards, and say standards-based reforms are producing beneficial change
at their schools," the newspaper's Nov
Two members of The Business Council's Environment Committee have received
its "Building A Better New York" award.
The 1999 recipients of this award are Hal Pierce, an environmental safety
consultant, and Thomas Maher, vice president of Dvirka & Bartilucci,
consulting engineers
The new "Jobs 2000" program that won final approval this week "will
make New York's recovery bigger, stronger, and faster as the state
enters the new millennium," Business Council President Daniel B.
Walsh said.
Governor Pataki signed the bill into law Nov. 10 at Hudson Valley
Community College in Troy
Local governments and school districts across New York State are
enjoying huge savings on employee pension costs, thanks to the returns
on the state pension fund's stock and other investments, Comptroller
H. Carl McCall reported.
State taxpayers have saved $583 million, and local taxpayers $609
million, on cumulative pension contributions by government employers
over the past three years, the Comptroller said
New York must resist pressure to relax its tough new academic standards,
the chairman of The Business Council's Education Committee told lawmakers
in a legislative hearing October 28.
"To keep giving kids a diploma based on old standards that do not reflect
what it takes to be a success in this world today is not helping them," Carlos
Carballada, an executive at M&T Bank and former chancellor of the
state Board of Regents told a legislative hearing on new high-school
standards
New York's state taxes are still higher than those in most other states,
but are coming closer to the national average, new data from the U.S.
Census Bureau show.
As of fiscal 1998, New York collected $1,989 in taxes for every state
resident, the Census Bureau said. That figure was 12
The Charter Schools Institute of the State University of New York has
received 90 applications from community leaders statewide seeking approval
to open new charter schools in 40 different communities next year.
The flood of applications suggests growing public support for the new
alternative public schools
The Business Council is evaluating the potential costs and environmental
benefits of pending new regulations affecting emissions from power generating
plants, according to Ken Pokalsky, director of environmental and regulatory
programs for The Council.
On October 14, Governor Pataki directed the Department of Environmental
Conservation to adopt new regulations requiring utilities and other electricity
generators to cut sulfur dioxide emissions