Statement from The Business Council on the Assembly passage of legislation raising the minimum wage

“After the passage of Tier VI pension reform, a fiscally responsible budget and other business-friendly initiatives, the Assembly has taken a step in the wrong direction. Raising the minimum wage to $8.50 per hour would cost an extra $2,900 per full-time employee in 2013. ItR
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Assembly & Senate at odds over minimum wage hike

Assembly Democrats Pass Legislation to Increase Minimum Wage Joseph Spector, Albany Bureau Chief for Gannett, reports on the split over the proposed minimum wage hike that The Business Council strongly opposes. Here’s his report: ALBANY — Democrat and Republicans in the st
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Senator Gillibrand tours upstate touting jobs, veteran education

This comes to us from the AP – Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is making the rounds of upstate New York college campuses to promote legislation to help veterans get education and training needed for civilian jobs. Her schedule Monday includes stops at Syracuse University, Nazareth Co
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Siena College Poll: Business tax cuts and minimum wage hike strongly supported

Senate & Assembly Favorability Best in 3 Years Nearly two-thirds of registered voters favor a $200 million package of small business tax cuts and credits, according to a new Siena College Research Institute poll released today. Also, a minimum wage hike has strong support: By a 78
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New Yorkers will begin voting Tuesday on the first set of school budgets drafted under Cuomo’s tax cap

The Associated Press gives a close look at the first batch of school budgets being drafted under Governor Cuomo’s new taxing limits. “Most districts have proposed budgets that stay within the boundaries established under the cap adopted last year, so it will take a simple
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Governor Cuomo may change NYRA board

Paul Post of the Saratogian newspaper writes that Governor Cuomo is considering restructuring the New York Racing Association board by adding more state-appointed members. He cited a “high-ranking source.” Post writes, “Cuomo, no great fan of NYRA to begin with, has
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The Business Council of New York State’s Public Policy Institute to unveil Bioscience report

The Public Policy Institute (PPI), the research arm of The Business Council of New York State, will be releasing an in-depth study on the challenges in attracting and retaining private-sector jobs and companies in New York’s lucrative bioscience sector. Business Council presiden
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Senate passes VoIP legislation

The Business Council applauds the Senate’s passage yesterday of  legislation which would direct the Public Service Commission (PSC) to refrain from regulating the rates, terms and conditions on telecommunications services delivered over Internet technologies such as VoIP (Voice ove
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New York gets a ‘D’ for small business friendliness

Richard A. D’Errico of The Business Review reports on a new survey which shows what many of us know too well. From D’Errico: “When it comes to starting a business, New York is viewed as unfriendly, according to a new survey. New York received an overall grade of D in
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Political sparring over the president’s visit: Gibson

Jimmy Vielkind of the Times Union reports on political attacks on Representative Chris Gibson, a Kinderhook Republican “whose seat they believe is in play.” He writes: “The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says Gibson is a hypocrite for excitedly announcin
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