In a significant win for business, Governor Pataki and legislative leaders
have agreed to clarify how the state will approve or reject proposed
new power-plant sites.
The Council had urged lawmakers to close a gap in a 1992 state law designed
to create "one-stop shopping" for entities seeking approval for new plants
Governor Pataki's program designed to pre-permit sites for a wide range
of business uses, BUILD NOW-NY, is going on the road this fall.
The Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform (GORR) will host four full-day
seminars statewide to inform economic development agencies and site owners
of the opportunities available under the program
As lawmakers apparently neared agreement on a state budget, The Business
Council began its final push to convince lawmakers to include new tax
cuts in the budget.
"Tax cuts these last few years have helped New York's economy a great
deal, and we need to keep them coming," said Business Council President
Daniel B
The Business Council Insurance Fund's
dental insurance program has more than doubled in size in
the last four years, thanks to competitive rates, consistently good
experience, and reliance on a well-respected carrier.
Four years ago, the Insurance Fund handled less than $2 million in dental
coverage each year
Paul Speranza, general counsel for Wegmans' Food Markets Inc. and chairman
of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Taxation Committee, testified recently
before the House Committee on Ways and Means on federal estate and gift
tax reform.
In his testimony, Speranza outlined the negative effects of federal
estate and gift taxes on the upstate economy
Although the state Insurance Department has rejected a proposed increase
in workers' compensation rates, the fact that such a large increase was
requested confirms the need for further workers' comp reform, said Business
Council President Daniel B. Walsh.
The New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board had proposed a rate
increase of 12
The
state Department of Taxation and Finance is increasing its
focus on taxpayer service, and is making investments in staff development
and technology to make this cultural change possible, the commissioner
of the department told The Business Council recently
The state's Task Force on Independent Contractors has recommended creation
of three new panels through which business, labor and state agencies
would work to determine when a worker is an independent contractors as
opposed to an employee.
In a report to the Governor earlier this month, the task force recommended
creation of a state Commission on Independent Contractors, a labor-management
council and a certification board
The Business Council has joined a new coalition of utilities, construction
firms and energy companies that is urging lawmakers to clarify how proposed
power plant sites will be approved or rejected by the state.
The GAINS Coalition sent a memo to the legislative leaders July 21 urging
them to close a "jurisdictional gap" in a 1992 state law that was designed
to facilitate the siting of such plants
Bulletin #19: July 14, 1999
We can't leave banks and insurers out of coming tax cuts
More than 99 percent of incorporated businesses in New York will see their state tax rate decline in the coming year. The business tax reductions enacted last year, thanks primarily to the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Bruno, will cut taxes for some 500,000 employers