News

02
Mar
2000
The Council is seeking members' input on a bill to give tax credits for the construction or rehabilitation of buildings that meet certain environmental standards. "We have concerns about this bill, and we'll use our members' input to decide whether to take a formal position on it," said Ken Pokalsky, The Council's environmental specialist
01
Mar
2000
Upstate growth beats national average for first time in 11 years; Pataki credits tax cuts Private-sector job growth both upstate and statewide exceeded private-sector job growth nationally last year, Governor Pataki said today. Final 1999 data from the state Department of Labor show that New York's private-sector employment grew by 2
01
Mar
2000
New York has made more progress in deregulating energy than all other states except Pennsylvania, a comprehensive new study of energy deregulation nationwide shows. New York is outpacing all other states in deregulating energy, the new Retail Energy Deregulation (RED) Index 2000 said. The index was done by the Center for the Advancement of Energy Markets, an independent think tank that promotes the transition from monopoly to competition in energy
29
Feb
2000
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno today proposed new tax cuts worth $1.7 billion. His package includes repeal of the state's gross receipts tax (GRT) on energy, other key business-tax cuts, and a new $1,000 exemption on personal income tax for all taxpayers. Nearly $1
29
Feb
2000
ALBANY — Senator Bruno's leap-year proposal could mean a giant leap forward for New York's economy. New York's surplus came from the bottom lines and household budgets of New York taxpayers. We agree with Senator Bruno that returning those dollars to taxpayers is the best use of that surplus, and we applaud his creative and strategic proposals for doing that
16
Feb
2000
Assembly Minority Leader John Faso says the state Thruway Authority would need no toll hike if it gave responsibility for state canal operations back to the state. On Tuesday, Governor Pataki asked the Thruway Authority to reconsider its proposed toll increase. "The Governor has asked us to look at alternatives to toll increases to fund vital capital projects on the Thruway, and we are doing so," Thruway Authority Chairman Lou Tomson said
16
Feb
2000
Bill addresses labor concern and preserves key '98 reforms that save business millions Governor Pataki has signed into law a bill that modifies the state's 18-month-old unemployment insurance (UI) system while preserving key elements of the historic UI reforms of 1998
16
Feb
2000
Any Superfund refinancing and brownfield reform should emphasize appropriate cleanup standards, fair funding, and reformed liability limits for parties that clean sites, The Business Council has told legislative leaders. In a Feb. 15 letter to lawmakers on environmental proposals in the Executive Budget, Ken Pokalsky, The Council's director of environmental and regulatory programs, argued that: Cleanup standards should reflect the planned use of the site
15
Feb
2000
ALBANY - New York State lawmakers should continue nurturing New York's economic recovery by further reducing New York's tax burden, especially by eliminating the gross receipts tax (GRT) on energy, Business Council President Daniel B. Walsh said in testimony to be delivered Tuesday in a hearing on economic development
15
Feb
2000
Senate Finance Committee  and Assembly Ways and Means Committee Chairman Stafford, Chairman Farrell, and honorable members of the committees: Two weeks ago, the Legislature delivered an early Valentine's Day message to an important group of New Yorkers. It was a message that said New York loves you, and we want you to stay here