The Associated Press reports in the Times Union - “The number of available jobs in the United States jumped in December to near a three-year high, supporting other data that show a brighter outlook for hiring.

Companies and governments posted 3.38 million jobs in December, the Labor Department said Tuesday. That’s up from the 3.12 million advertised in the previous month and nearly matches the three-year high reached in September.
Job openings in the private sector reached the highest point in almost three and a half years.”

To read more click here.

Plentiful oil, natural gas can be extracted safely

In a guest column on NKY.com Dr. Robert W. Chas, Chair and Professor in the Department of Petroleum Engineering & Geology at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio writes - “During the national debate on the utilization of hydraulic fracturing to produce natural gas and/or oil from shale formations, at least five fallacies seem to have been purveyed to the public as truths. What is disturbing is that, at a time when America can’t afford to foreclose on more than a hundred years’ worth of inexpensive, environmentally attractive energy, untruths could become an excuse for obstructionist foot-dragging on shale drilling. To that end, I offer the following five myths and the realities with regard to “fracking.”

To read the rest of the story click here.

A coalition of labor unions, religious groups, and others is urging Governor Cuomo and the legislature to close what they say are loopholes in the law. As Karen DeWitt reports - “They say those loopholes are shielding large corporations from having to pay their fair share of taxes…

But the leader of the state’s Business Council, Heather Briccetti, says now is not the right time to be raising taxes on corporations. She says a recent survey found New York 49th in the nation for having a hospitable tax climate for business.

“In terms of our competitiveness, I think it’s a very hard argument to make that we’re letting businesses escape without paying their fair share of taxes,” Briccetti said.

And, she says the charge that corporations in New York aren’t paying enough taxes is ludicrous. She points to revenues from the financial industry, which account for 20% of all taxes collected in New York.

Briccetti says there’s another reason why some corporations have been paying lower taxes lately. In the recession and it’s aftermath, they aren’t making much money.”

To read the rest of the story or listen to the interview click here.

In a NY Post article, Erik Kriss cites a study showing that raising the minimum wage hurts private sector employment:

“The study compared employment trends in New York between 2004 and 2006 — when the Empire State raised its minimum wage twice — with those in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Hampshire, where there was no increase.

While prior studies suggested every 10 percent increase in the minimum wage led to a 1 to 3 percent drop in employment for less-skilled employees, the authors said the new study found a 7 percent dip for young high-school dropouts.”

To read more click here.

Business Council President and CEO Heather Briccetti today gave testimony at the economic development budget hearing.

Heather Briccetti, President and CEO of The Business Council, is joined by Vice President of Government Affairs Ken Pokalsky

Briccetti emphasized the organization’s commitment to working with the Governor, Senate and Assembly to continue moving New York in the right direction. She touched on several key points from The Business Council’s agenda, which include:

• Enacting the Governor’s Tier VI pension reform proposal;
• Fostering VoIP innovation;
• Extending the MTA mobility tax reforms to professional business organizations;
• Spurring New York’s travel and tourism sector;
• Moving forward with a constitutional amendment to allow for enhanced gaming;
• Reforming New York’s overly rigorous regulatory climate; and
• Improving the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process and making it more user-friendly.

During the Q&A portion of her testimony, Briccetti noted that corporate tax reform was a top priority for The Business Council.

To view her full written testimony, click here.

Justin Sarjeant of the Legislative Gazette writes:

“Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched the “NY Youth Works” program, a statewide effort to fight the high unemployment rates among inner city youth in communities across New York.

The program is part of Cuomo’s urban agenda which is designed to revitalize communities across the state and address the needs of people living in poverty. Cuomo and legislative leaders designed the program to provide permanent employment for youth aged 16 to 24.

…Cuomo has also received praise from the Business Council of New York State, Inc., which represents the interests of large and small firms throughout the state.

‘We are extremely pleased to support this project,’ said Robert L. Lillpopp, director of communications for the Business Council. ‘We think it will be very helpful to businesses that employ disadvantaged youth in the major cit(ie)s across the state.’

To read more click here.

In a Buffalo News article, David Robinson, Tom Precious and Emma Sapong examine employees’ and employers’ views on the proposed minimum wage hike. Businesses contend that the Speaker’s proposal would result in less jobs and higher payroll costs:

“Business groups denounced the Silver plan, saying it would cost the state jobs by driving up payroll costs at a time when the economy is struggling.

‘We think it would be a sure-fire way to stifle job creation as New York struggles to emerge from the recession,’ said James Calvin, president of the New York Association of Convenience Stores.

‘When you drive up the cost of an entry-level position, it makes it harder to justify that position,’ Calvin said. In addition, a higher minimum wage would have a ripple effect that would push up the hourly pay of other workers at the bottom end of the pay scale, further adding to payroll costs, he said.

‘That would be devastating,’ said Michael F. Newman, the executive vice president of Noco Energy, which oversees the Noco Express Shops chain. He said a higher minimum wage would mean fewer part-time positions and less flexibility for both employers and the workers who fill those jobs.

‘It misses the whole point about what that introductory wage is meant for,’ said Newman, who estimated that about 40 percent of the workers at Noco Express Shops earn minimum wage. ‘These are part-time people who are looking for extra work.’

A small-business advocacy group, the National Federation of Independent Business, had a similar reaction. “The proposal is based on good intentions, but it’s going to have a very damaging effect on the people whom its advocates want to help,” said Mike Durant, the group’s state director.

‘The way to improve our state’s economy and the lives of all New Yorkers is to create more private-sector jobs,’ said Heather Briccetti, president and chief executive officer of the Business Council of New York State.

‘Raising the minimum wage would only hurt New York’s small businesses, farms and not-for-profits that are struggling to make their current payrolls, and reduce job opportunities in this difficult economy,’ she said.”

To read more click here.

James Odato of the Times Union writes:

“Assembly Democrats are close to unveiling a plan to raise the minimum wage in New York after talks with an alliance of labor and political groups pushing for a $9.50-per-hour rate.

Rob Lillpopp, a spokesman for the Business Council of New York State, expects a presentation this week. The council is wary of a hike, and questions the logic of raising minimum wages during a weak economy. “The way to improve the state’s economy is to increase the number of jobs,” Lillpopp said.

A coalition that includes the Working Families Party and some labor unions, particularly New York City-based SEIU 1199 and 32BJ, as well as the progressive advocacy group Citizen Action is pushing the increase. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, began pushing for an increase in his first speech of the year, made before Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address earlier this month.”

**Update: The Assembly has introduced a bill to increase the minimum wage to $8.50/hour (A.9148).

To read more click here.

According to a release from the Governor’s office:

“Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that Xerox Corporation will establish a call center in Webster that will create 500 new jobs over the next two years.

‘Xerox is a global leader that could have gone anywhere in the world to expand their business, but they chose New York because our state is rapidly becoming the place to be for businesses,’ Governor Cuomo said. ‘By forging successful public-private partnerships like we have with Xerox, we can leverage state resources to generate sustainable economic growth and long-term job creation.’

Utilizing $5 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits and a $1 million Economic Development Fund grant from Empire State Development, the company will invest $4.3 million to renovate a portion of Building 200 on the Webster campus, as well as purchase IT systems and equipment to create a 23,000 square foot state-of-the-art call center space. The Monroe County Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) has also approved a local tax abatement package totaling $271,040.

The plans call for the creation of 500 new jobs, including 350 jobs in 2012 and an additional 150 jobs by 2013. In addition to the 500 new jobs being created, the company will retain 70 existing employees at the project location. Renovation is expected to begin in February, with completion projected by the end of 3rd quarter 2012. Xerox expects to begin hiring employees in March. Positions will include call center agents and managers.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, ‘It is through Governor Cuomo’s efforts that home-grown companies, like Xerox, are choosing to stay here and grow here. This commitment to Xerox ensures that investment and jobs stay in the Greater Rochester region.’”

To read more click here.

The following is a letter that was written to Kassata Edwards (of WRGB Channel 6 News), who covered The Business Council’s Legislators’ Reception, along with the protest outside Hotel Albany (formerly known as the Crowne Plaza Albany). The author is Pete Bardunias, President/CEO of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County:

“Hello Ms. Edwards,

Thank you for the fair and balanced report on the protest at the Business Council event last night. Channel 6 did a good job of laying out the facts as you saw them for people to understand. I’d like to add a few things which may be helpful, although I in no way claim to speak for the Business Council of New York State or any other entity present last night.

I was an attendee at the event, the guy with the little round band aid on my face chatting as the camera pans the room in your video. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I walked in about an hour earlier with one of the protesters, who I approached because she was wearing a Business Council credential. The lady with the dark hair and small rimmed dark glasses. If you look at your video she is unpinning the badge from her sweater while she is chanting and then puts it in her pocket. Perhaps she is the one who let the people in through a back door, but she most assuredly came in the front, along with me.

What disappoints me the most is, as we made small talk in the elevator, she claimed to own a small business. If so, then it’s a shame she didn’t utilize the resources of the Chambers of Commerce who were present there, and I honestly wish I could sit down with her and clear up any misunderstandings as to what these organizations are all about. The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County, for example, has 950 members, 65% of which have less than 10 employees. We would gladly address her concerns just as we would any small business who becomes a member. The big issues mentioned in the parking lot by the protesters – fracking, health care, taxation, family issues, etc. are all very much on the minds of chamber executives and our members too. It’s a shame they were out there in the rain instead of inside engaging in civil discourse which is what the many attendees of that reception were doing. I did not attend the President’s event later in the evening, but rather went home to my family in Clifton Park.

BCNYS President/CEO Heather Briccetti is a fine executive who has worked hard and deserves the position to which she has been appointed. Again I won’t speak for the Business Council, but I am proud that my Chamber of Commerce supports businesses large and small, from Mom and Pop entrepreneurs (such as what this woman claimed to be) all the way to some of the largest companies on the planet. Southern Saratoga County is a place where all these various interests and factions come together, and work hard to make a difference in leading New York out of its economic doldrums. I am very proud to be part of this community at such an important time in our history.

Thank you for letting me share my thoughts in this email. Should I be able to offer any other assistance to you, please don’t hesitate to contact me, my information is below.”