Budget officials: State faces years of decline

LoHud.com reports – “New York’s budget analysts predicted yesterday that the national recession will end in the third quarter this year, but the state’s finances will still take years to recover, particularly after federal stimulus aid dries up. Estimates from
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Governor hosts ‘trade mission’ in western New York

Syrauces.com reports – “Gov. David Paterson is hosting dozens of foreign officials on a trade mission to western New York. Paterson’s office says 60 foreign trade commissioners from 39 countries will be in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls region today and Thursday. The fore
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Vote on Senate Dems’ MTA bailout plan likely next week

James T. Madore of Newsday writes – “A vote by the State Senate on Democrats’ plan to bail out the MTA likely won’t take place until next week because of minor amendments made Tuesday. Democratic senators had hoped to adopt the rescue plan Wednesday, rebutting
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Card Check Update

Two items of interest to start the week: 1. An item which appeared Late Friday in the Washington Post; I found the blog comments instructive, particularly the comments related to an organizing effort underway in Indiana and the role Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) could play in that e
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Business Council opposed to bill that would expand Whistleblower Protections

This bill would amend the state Labor Law and expand whistleblower protections beyond the already existing protections available in Sections 740 and 741 of the Labor Law. The Business Council opposes enactment of this bill. Diminished employee responsibility The bill expands protectio
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MTA Payroll Tax – Why do I have to pay for everyone else?

As part of keeping our members informed The Business Council sends out a weekly legislative update. This week that update included a number of items on the proposed MTA payroll tax. We received the following e-mail and were asked to post it on this blog. ————&#
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Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith in MTA fight

The Daily News reports – “Negotiations over an MTA bailout deal blew up Friday amid bitter squabbling between Senate and Assembly leaders, sources said. A conference call to discuss the rescue collapsed when Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver’s staff learned the state S
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Legislature weighs trans-fat ban, junk-food limits, calorie-labeling on menus

Cara Matthews reports on LoHud.com – “Although lawmakers rejected the governor’s plan to tax sugary sodas as a revenue raiser and public-health measure, they will soon debate proposals from him and several legislators to ban trans fats, limit junk food in schools and
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Property tax forum draws 100 people

The Daily Freeman reports – “About 100 people attended a property tax reform forum on Thursday that was organized by town of Marlborough officials. For the most part, the issues and questions were familiar: When is the state going to fix the problem? Can the state take ove
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IDA reform is flawed

The following is an editorial from the Buffalo News. Changes to incentive program would stall development goals “Harmful legislation to reform the state’s industrial development agencies is liable to pass in Albany before long. If it is signed into law, New York can kiss goodb
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