News

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New York's infamous "death tax," a long-standing tax-cut priority of The Business Council, expired this month. In fact, thanks to legislation effective February 1, New York's estate taxes are now as low as any other state's-and less costly than those in states such as Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio and North Carolina

Debate is continuing in Albany about proposals to increase Thruway tolls and to relieve New York's counties of a huge unfunded mandate created by the new Health Care Reform Act (HCRA). A proposal from the Thruway Authority would increase tolls 1.8 percent in June, and allow future annual increases of up to 3 percent based on a 12-month average of construction costs in 20 U

Governor Pataki's 30-day amendments to his original Executive Budget spell out how the state's gross receipts tax (GRT) on energy would be phased out. His plan would eliminate the GRT on energy for manufacturers retroactive to Jan. 1. Manufacturers would get a refundable tax credit on their corporate income taxes equal to what they pay in the energy GRT

Governor Pataki said Wednesday that he will unveil amendments to his Executive Budget by Jan. 31 to accelerate budget negotiations and increase the chances of an on-time budget this year. Each year, the Governor can amend the original Executive Budget for 30 days after it is released. The Governor said he will release his amendments before that deadline

The Business Council is asking the state Health Department to investigate why no standards for evaluating hospitals and doctors have been produced since lawmakers allocated money for that purpose in 1996. With Business Council support, the Health Care Reform Act (HCRA) of 1996 included funding to develop quality-measurement tools to help consumers and employers evaluate hospitals and doctors

Governor Pataki's budget proposal contains significant changes to the state's "superfund" program, including new enforcement provisions opposed by The Council, and it would impose over $30 million in new fees on facilities that store petroleum and generate hazardous wastes. Overall, the Governor's proposal would provide about $140 million annually for state-financed cleanups of hazardous waste and hazardous substance disposal sites

Governor Pataki announced Tuesday a proposed new state budget that would cut energy taxes on manufacturers retroactive to January 1, provide other new tax cuts, restrain the growth of state debt, and limit new spending. "We're on the right path - the path of limited government, controlled spending, lower taxes, and more jobs," the Governor said in his budget address to the Legislature

Acknowledging that school districts' tax increases may be soaking up property-tax relief intended for homeowners, Governor Pataki has proposed that the state take over the distribution of tax-relief payments and impose caps on school spending increases. The Governor said the state will spend $2 billion in the next fiscal year to support property-tax relief under the STAR program, which provides exemptions to homeowners

Following is The Business Council's 2000 Legislative Program. It identifies legislative, regulatory, and administrative issues to be worked on by the Committees and Councils during the coming year. **To view the text of any bill listed below, click here and enter the bill number and year. Issue Areas: Business Law / General Counsel Construction Consumer Contract Procurement E-Commerce Economic Development Education and Job Training Energy Environmental Conservation Financial Services General Health Insurance Labor & Human Resources Manufacturing Occupational Safety & Health Small Business State Administrative Procedures Act (SAPA) Taxation Telecommunications Transportation Unemployment Compensation Workers' Compensation Overview: Since the mid-1990's tax cuts, employee-benefit reforms and an improved attitude toward business have helped New York generate an economic recovery