News

31
Dec
1998
What? Reduce the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) rate applied to corporations from 3.5% to 1.75% of income. The AMT limits a company's ability to utilize all of the Investment Tax Credits (ITC) it would otherwise earn through investment in plant, equipment and job growth. Why? Jobs. The AMT retards investment in New York State by manufacturers
31
Dec
1998
Let's Get in the Game In early 1995, it was revealed that the state government had promised to give over $70 million of the taxpayers' hard-earned money to a giant, highly profitable corporation from out of state. Was the reaction one of outrage? No — it was elation. The state was Virginia, the corporation was Motorola, and the deal was the announcement that the company would build a new chip-making facility outside Richmond
10
Dec
1998
The transition to deregulated hospital rate-setting in New York is working as planned, so New York should continue moving toward a fully deregulated environment, according to The Business Council's specialist in health-care issues. That means that $1.38 billion in "temporary" surcharges on health-care bills should expire on schedule at the end of next year, Elliott Shaw, director of government affairs, said in a speech at a conference on health care at Pace University
10
Dec
1998
Chambers of commerce and other business groups from Buffalo, Syracuse, the Capital District, and many other parts of the state have declared their strong support for the "Upstate Agenda for Growth" proposed by The Business Council. Executives from seven prominent business groups strongly endorsed the Upstate Agenda at a press conference at the state Capitol Nov
10
Dec
1998
Business Council President Daniel B. Walsh is asking New York State businesses to consider supporting the New York Special Olympics (NYSO). Walsh has agreed to serve as chair of the development committee for the NYSO Summer Games, which will be held in Albany for the next two summers. Walsh is urging business leaders in the Capital Region and statewide to consider supporting the Special Olympics by becoming an event sponsor and/or by asking their employees to become volunteers for the Summer Games
30
Nov
1998
ALBANY — "Temporary" taxes totaling $1.38 billion a year that were intended to support New York State medical institutions undermine the competitiveness of New York business, make it harder for businesses to afford health insurance, and fail to deliver many of the intended benefits, according to a new report from The Public Policy Institute of New York State
30
Nov
1998
ALBANY — Chambers of commerce and other business groups from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and Schenectady today urged lawmakers to enact an "Upstate Agenda for Growth" proposed by The Business Council. At a press conference at the state Capitol, Daniel B. Walsh, president of The Business Council was joined by representatives of the Greater Buffalo Partnership, the Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce, the Schenectady Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce, and the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce
24
Nov
1998
ALBANY — The Business Council has urged legislative leaders to use a December session to pass an aggressive package of bills called the "Upstate Agenda for Growth." The Upstate Agenda would reduce energy costs, accelerate existing tax cuts, enhance workforce development, repeal mandates in order to lower property taxes, pre-approve potential business sites, and promote New York's economic progress to businesses and economic development professionals both inside and outside New York State
24
Nov
1998
November 23, 1998 Honorable Joseph L. Bruno President Pro Tem and Majority Leader New York State Senate Room 909, LOB Albany, New York 12247 Dear Senator Bruno: RE: An Upstate Agenda for Growth, for action in December A December session of the Legislature would provide an early opportunity to stimulate growth in the single remaining area where New York still lags the nation economically: Upstate
24
Nov
1998
Local government and business leaders have begun naming state mandates that decrease local governments' flexibility while driving up their costs and taxes. More than 100 local government and business leaders took part in "mandate reform roundtables" sponsored by the new Coalition for Mandate Reform