| ny-brownfields.com |
National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) |
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http://www.nfib.org |
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Today’s challenges are an unprecedented opportunity for doing great things. Re-build lower Manhattan Naturally, there are a host of other reforms that should be added to any comprehensive economic recovery program that hoped to bring about a swift, strong recovery and with it the job-creation that is essential for our children’s future. At a minimum, we need new capacity for the generation of electricity; Wicks-law repeal; immunity from liability for the redevelopment of Brownfields; and Workers’ Compensation reform. Many industry-specific reforms could be added to help us grow as fast as the rest of the nation. But the biggest economic spark will come from re-building lower Manhattan, and soon. Excerpted from: NFIB 2003 Legislative Priorities [New York State] The 2001 Leadership Council Meeting CUTTING THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE LEADERSHIPCOUNCILof NFIB in New York met in September to discuss New York politics and government with Lt. Gov. Mary Donohue, who is leading a new gubernatorial task force on small business, and new Superintendent of Insurance Greg Serio. Also at the meeting was Tom Musser, national Chairman of the Board of Directors of the NFIB, who spoke about his vision for the future of NFIB. Most of the meeting was devoted to discussing a wide variety of policy issues important to the state’s small business community and determining which should be pursued actively by NFIB in next year’s legislative session. "NFIB always fights to ease the government-imposed burdens that needlessly depresses small business growth and job creation," NFIB state director Mark Alesse noted. "At this meeting, we worked to identify our other priorities, in order to focus our grassroots lobbying efforts on these issues."
There was strong consensus to press for a cut in the state’s personal income tax, a burden to 350,000 small businesses. States with a low income tax have a better rate of new business growth, because personal savings constitute the key source of startup capital for most small businesses. Other leading issues for small business identified by NFIB’s
Leadership Council included: health insurance costs, tort reform and the
workers’ compensation program. Brian Merriam of Schenectady spoke out about sections 240 and 241 of the labor law that have precipitated an insurance crisis for builders and contractors. Ed Barber of West Coxsakie expressed the concern that UI benefits should not be paid to striking workers, and felt that energy costs need to be lower. Lou Basso of Farmingdale warned about a labor push for a workers’ comp wage-base increase, and told that family medical leave is often being abused. Dick Clark of Cazenovia suggested the development of a "full employment program," starting with a report, followed by a package of initiatives. Clark also felt brownfields and superfund issues are important for the business community. Bradd Vickers of Norwich thought Sen. Schumer would be good to contact regarding tort reform, and told of his budget meetings with Assemblymen Faso, Crouch and Warner. Vickers said he feels tort liability is running business out of New York. |