A workers' compensation reform that has been a top
Council priority for several years is part of new legislation-the
second bill introduced this session that would make the same reform.
The "Small Business Support Act of 1999," developed and sponsored by
Senator Nicholas Spano (R-Westchester), addresses longtime priorities
of The Council's Workers' Compensation Committee and Small Business Council
Bulletin #2: April 26, 1999
Just The Facts: New York State is a leader in spending
This year's debate over the state budget boils down to one key question: How much should spending go up in the coming year?
The health-care lobbyists, the education establishment and others are hoping the answer is several multiples of the inflation rate
Governor Pataki has proposed abolishing current regulations on the commercial
insurance industry, giving new momentum to the call for insurance deregulation.
The Governor's plan, which was announced April 15, would eliminate the
requirement that the state Insurance Department approve many commercial
policies
Bulletin #1: April 12, 1999
Surplus? What surplus? Long-term, New York has none
The tax-and-spend crowd says New York has a huge surplus. Reflecting the old political culture of Albany, they believe the only choice is to spend more. They want more money for hospitals, even though our per-capita spending on hospital services is more than twice the levels of California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and other states
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno has proposed a debt-reform plan
that would cut the state's projected debt by $6 billion over five years
and reform its borrowing practices.
The Senate plan would eliminate "back-door borrowing"--that is, borrowing
not expressly approved by voters
ALBANYState and local government spending in New York is second-highest
among the 50 states, at nearly 52 percent above the national average.
And the state is far ahead of its competitors in taxpayer spending
on hospitals, Medicaid, schools and welfare.
Those are among the data in Just
The Facts: Key Economic and Social Indicators for New York State,
published today by The Public Policy
Institute
ALBANY—The tax burden imposed by New York State government rose
more than the inflation rate in 1998, but other states increased tax
collections more, according to statistics the U.S. Census Bureau released
on the Internet today. The result was a further improvement in New York's
relative state-tax burden, from 15
One major New York State employer is reporting good news in the state's
ongoing competition with other states and countries for jobs.
In a March 31 news release, Oneida Ltd. announced that a program begun
in January to increase productivity had exceeded expectations.
"We now have the flexibility to close our higher-cost manufacturing
facility in Canada and reallocate that production to more efficient,
lower-cost sites in New York and Mexico," Peter J
The Business Council and three of its members will be honored for their
continued support for women in business in New York State.
Price Chopper, Bellevue Women's Hospital, Capital District Physician's
Health Plan, and The Business Council will be recognized at an April
27 luncheon sponsored by Enterprising Women of New York