ALBANY— New York State's tax code should be fundamentally restructured
to turn a competitive disadvantage into "an advantage in the competition
for jobs," Business Council President Daniel B. Walsh told key lawmakers
today.
Testifying before the Senate Finance
and Assembly Ways and Means Committees, Walsh asked the Legislature
to enact major new business tax cuts this year, and to go further in
coming years
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno today released details on his "Jobs
2000" plan, a proposed investment of $262.5 million designed to create
new high-tech jobs through investments in research, infrastructure, education,
and workforce development.
The so-called "J2K" plan would combine new and existing resources in
four initiatives: the Education and Economic Development Act, the Employee
Readiness Act (ERA), the Pipeline for Jobs Program, and an expansion
of the state Institute of Entrepreneurship
Senator Dale Volker (R-Buffalo) Assemblyman Joe Morelle (D-Rochester),
two of the Legislature's strongest supporters of civil justice reform,
have introduced a comprehensive tort reform bill.
The bill is backed by New Yorkers for Civil Justice Reform, a broad
coalition of organizations representing big and small businesses, municipalities,
physicians, architects and many others
By Ed Reinfurt
If we want to do something vital to improve New York's business
climate, we should emulate our fourth-graders.
That's right: Today, the New Yorkers making the most persuasive
case for a more competitive New York in the 21st century
may be our nine-year-olds
Assemblyman Joseph E. Robach (D-Rochester) has been named Chairman of
the Legislative Commission on Skills Development and Career Education.
The commission was created in 1986 to examine both public and private
skills development and job training programs, and to evaluate vocational
education programs
Paul Speranza, general counsel for Wegmans Food Markets Inc. and a member
of The Business Council's Board of Directors, has been appointed Chairman
of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Taxation Committee.
Last year, Speranza was named to the U.S. Chamber's Board of Directors
representing The Business Council
Reports that the Legislature is dismayed about how Governor
Pataki submitted his budget have raised the possibility that
a budget agreement will not be reached by the constitutional
deadline of April 1.
The Governor submitted a budget this year that would grow
by less than the rate of inflation--a step that immediately
led to promises that the Legislature would add significant
spending to the package
Commissioner of Education Richard Mills said this week that
he would not relent in his quest for higher school standards,
regardless of the outcome of the budget debate over school
aid.
Commissioner Mills made his comments Tuesday while testifying
before legislative hearings on the education component of
Governor Pataki's proposed budget
The Council has begun a series of informal briefing memos
on issues related to health-care cost containment.
Elliott Shaw, outlined The Councils
views on financing graduate medical
education (GME) in the first memo
in the series
The Business Council and the Association of Presidents of
Public Community Colleges have urged lawmakers to invest
in workforce development that is employer-drven, locally
delivered, easy to access and well-funded.
In a memo to legislators February 1, The Council and the
Association also called for $50 million in state aid to business,
economic development groups, and educational institutions
to support consortia efforts to develop and deliver training