Business Council among many that strongly opposes $200 million transfer from NYSERDA

The State Assembly says it plans to pluck $200 million from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and place it into the state’s General Fund. Several statewide organizations including the Business Council sent Governor Cuomo a letter objecting to the move... C
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Energy money check sought

Assembly Committee Chief says Taking NYSERDA Funds is a Matter of Transparency Larry Rulison of The Times Union writes about the the $200 million the State Assembly says it plans to pluck from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and place into the state’
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DOT slapped down for union deal

In his Sunday column for the Daily Gazette Carl Strock wrote about a court’s ruling to overturn a decision by the State Department of Transportation that a construction project in Orange County should be “reserved” for union labor. As Strock wrote, “I knew that
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Wage theft prevention repeal has passed the Senate

A needless piece of legislation that was costing businesses money and resources has been repealed.  By a vote of 34 to 23 the New York State Senate has repealed the notification provisions of the Wage Theft Prevention Act. Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of The Business Council
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Today deadline for new teacher evaluation system

Governor Cuomo set today as the deadline for state education officials and the New York State United Teachers to reach a compromise on a more stringent evaluation of teachers. Cuomo said if no deal is made, he will forward his own system. The deadline comes as a new Quinnipiac poll sh
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Buffalo School District foots the bill for plastic surgery

Jordan Weissmann of The Atlantic writes: “In Buffalo, New York, the heart of the American rust-belt, the public school system pays for its teachers to get plastic surgery. Hair removal. Miscrodermabrasian. Liposuction. If you can name the procedure, it’s probably covered.
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Cuomo announces plan to increase efficiency in state government

According to a release from the Governor’s office: “Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced transformative steps that his administration is taking to change the way state government does business in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The reforms will focus on
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State still borrowing from highway and bridge fund

Cara Matthews reports on pressconnects.com – “Fill up the gas tank, register your car or rent a vehicle in New York, and a portion of the taxes you pay are supposed to fund repairs of the state’s roads and bridges. There’s one major problem: Most of the time, i
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Attention Engineers – You can earn up to six NYSED continuing education professional engineering credits at BCNYS event

The Business Council’s 2011 Industry-Environment Conference This two-day conference brings together experts from both the private and public sectors to interact and share the latest information relevant to environmental issues in New York State. Highlights include: Update on Fed
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Cuomo asks New Yorkers for ideas to reform state government

In an e-mail sent to many New Yorkers, Governor Cuomo gives them an opportunity to send in ideas on how to reform state government. The text of the e-mail is below. “The last major reorganization of New York State government occurred over eighty years ago.  Since then, our gove
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