ALBANY— New York's business community overwhelming believes that
New York should enact policies designed to rein in skyrocketing costs
of health care and health insurance, and to bring New York's health costs
more in line with the rest of the nation's, a new Business Council survey
shows
ALBANY—A new report by The Public Policy Institute of New York
State (PPI) argues that New York's tough new academic standards are important
to both students and employers, and should be neither relaxed nor delayed.
The report, which comes amid mounting public pressure to relax and/or
postpone the standards, is entitled Straight Talk About Higher Standards
Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and members of the Senate Majority
have proposed eliminating the state gross receipts tax on electricity
and natural gas, a move that would reduce taxes on utility customers
by $710 million a year.
"The GRT is a hidden tax on consumers and business owners, but its effects
are quite clear: higher utility costs that make it more expensive to
live and create jobs in New York State," Senator Bruno said Dec
ALBANY— Local taxes in New York Statefar and away the highest
in the nationcould be cut by at least $5 billion a year if Governor
Pataki and the Legislature reform costly state mandates on municipalities
and school districts, a new book from The Public Policy Institute of
New York State says
By Ed Reinfurt
Any business owner will tell you that the key to prosperity is winning
customers' confidence and trust.
In America, this has been a truism of commerce in turn-of-the-century
general stores, in Manhattan's first department stores, in post-war supermarkets,
and in malls that have thrived in the last quarter century
New York's local and regional chambers of commerce have asked The Business
Council to manage the Chamber Alliance of New York State (CANYS).
Denise Murphy McGraw, The Council's director of regional affairs, will
be executive director of CANYS beginning in January. The Council will
coordinate all CANYS conferences, prepare its newsletter and other communications,
develop a web site, handle the group's finances, and serve as CANYS spokesperson
New York's Commercial Division of state Supreme Court has moved New
York "from a court system that often evoked frustration among businesses,
to a business court that is the envy of other states," according to Business
Council Chairman Peter Bijur.
Bijur, who is chairman and CEO of Texaco Inc
Click here to
read the full report.
ALBANY— New York State's one-of-a-kind $2.7 billion in annual
surcharges to subsidize hospital costs drive up the cost of health
care for all New Yorkers and undermine the state's economic competitiveness,
a new report argues
By R. Carlos Carballada
Imagine an inexperienced athlete who trains for the Boston marathon
by ambling around the block once a day. Ideally, some coach would insist
on a more rigorous regimen to prepare for such a demanding competition.
Now suppose this athlete's coach said: Yes, you should train harder
Two members of The Business Council's Environment Committee have received
its "Building A Better New York" award.
The 1999 recipients of this award are Hal Pierce, an environmental safety
consultant, and Thomas Maher, vice president of Dvirka & Bartilucci,
consulting engineers