New York State
Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has issued a new report on
energy in New York that repeats his previous calls for siting
more power plants in New York.
"This is a
critical moment in New York," Spitzer said
The Senate
Majority's 2001-01 budget resolution includes a $1.8 billion tax-cut package,
investments in economic development in biotechnology, an expansion of the
state's Empire Zone program, and a major new proposal for Superfund refinancing
and reform.
Senate Majority
Leader Joseph Bruno released information on the resolution at a Monday press
conference
New York State should approve
between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts of new electricity generating capacity
this year to avoid serious electricity shortages, according to a new report
from the New York State Independent System Operator (ISO).
The report, Power Alert:
New York's Energy Crossroads, also urged New York to increase its total
capacity by 8,600 megawatts by 2005
New York is making available
$7.5 million in state grants to help New York State manufacturers provide
on-the-job training for workers.
The grant money is intended
to help manufacturers give their workers opportunities to stay current
in information technologies, processes and innovations, Governor Pataki
said Tuesday in announcing the availability of the grants
The state Legislature
has approved a bill that would make permanent a 1998 law that exempts telecommunications
companies from certain regulatory requirements related to services and products.
The Business
Council strongly supports the bill (S.2241-Alesi; A. 4446-Vann).
In 1998, the
Legislature passed, and Governor Pataki signed, a law that changed the requirements
governing how telecommunications companies were required to file schedules
describing products and services they planned to offer in accordance with
the State Administrative Procedures Act (SAPA)
Assemblyman Robin Schimminger
(D-Erie) is urging the complete elimination of the state's gross receipts
tax (GRT) on electricity and natural gas and other energy taxes, effective
this year.
Schimminger, chairman of
the Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce and
Industry, said his bill would save residential and business customers $450
million a year
Eleven Senators have joined
Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Nassau) in sponsoring a bill to adopt the "single-sales
factor" to calculate state corporate income taxes.
The single-sales factor would
base corporate income taxes solely on a taxpayer's sales to in-state destinations.
Adopting the single-sales factor for all corporations is The Business Council's
top tax priority for 2001
Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle
(D-Monroe County) has introduced a bill (A.5317) to adopt the "single-sales
factor" to calculate state corporate income taxes.
His bill would phase in the
change over two years for manufacturers and biotech firms. When fully implemented,
it would cut business taxes by more than $50 million, creating 32,000 new
manufacturing jobs while increasing state revenues over the long term, Morelle
said
The Business Council is urging
Governor Pataki to reject a proposed new multistate agreement governing
use of water from the Great Lakes, saying the regulations would needlessly
limit New York businesses' access to Great Lakes water.
"The Business Council questions
the need for onerous new conservation measures that could impose significant
costs on the basin's economy, but will have little, if any, effect on water
levels in the Great Lakes," Business Council President Daniel B
The
Senate Majority has proposed a major expansion of the state's "Empire
Zone" program, which makes specified regions eligible for tax credits
and other economic development incentives.
The Senate plan, which
was announced Feb. 27, would expand all of the 52 existing Empire Zones
and create 14 new ones