January 26, 2004
HEAL New York “play or pay” proposal . . .
Two powerful health-care spending groups have proposed a tax on businesses of up to $3,000 per employee and $1 to $2 billion in new taxpayer-funded public debt to send more money to hospitals and increase state spending on Medicaid and other government health insurance programs.
The plan, which was described in a January 13 New York Times story, is being advanced by the hospital workers' union, 1199/SEIU, and the Greater New York Hospital Association. The proposal would tax employers that do not currently provide employee health insurance benefits as much as $3,000 per employee. The report said the plan also calls for the sale of $1 to $2 billion in state bonds to provide new aid to the state's hospital sector—even though New York's per-capita public debt is already the nation's second-highest.
The Business Council is seeking your input as it develops a strategy to fight this plan. Please take a moment to answer the following questions and send your responses to maggie.moree@bcnys.org or call 518-465-7511.
- How many (and what percentage) of your members already have health insurance?
- Would your chamber support an e-advocacy campaign against this proposal?
- How many of your members do you think would support an e-advocacy campaign on this, even if they already provide health insurance?
CANYS Board encourages rating of state legislators . . .
A resolution calling for a new way to rate state legislators was officially submitted to Business Council leadership this week. The Chamber Alliance Board this Wednesday passed a resolution requesting that “The Business Council create an annual ‘legislative scorecard’ that tracks votes for each member of the NYS Assembly and Senate on key business issues.” That resolution has been delivered to Ed Reinfurt, vice president of The Business Council, who has been working on a new legislative "progress report" along the lines suggested by the Chamber Alliance.
The resolution reads in part, “Whereas, meaningful accountability for votes cast against business climate issues in the New York State Assembly and Senate is lacking, resulting in the perpetuation of the state’s poor overall business climate … and whereas many CANYS members are willing to use their influence with locally elected Assembly and Senate members by holding them accountable for their votes on business issues, but lack the resources to track individual member votes …be it resolved that CANYS requests the BCNYS create an annual ‘legislative scorecard.’”
The vote on the resolution followed much discussion about chamber activism throughout CANYS’ 2004 Legislative and Leadership Conference, held in Albany on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Legislative and Leadership conference wrap-up . . .
41 different chambers and 22 organizations sent representatives to this year’s Legislative and Leadership conference, making it one of the best-attended events in recent years. There were discussions at both the GAC and CANYS Board meetings on a “legislative scorecard” to hold state policymakers accountable for their votes (or lack thereof) on business issues. State Comptroller Alan Hevesi delivered a candid view of the state’s fiscal situation, coincidentally on the same day Governor Pataki released his budget for 2004.
Nationally-known speaker Kip Lilly energized and equipped conference participants to focus their efforts at the chamber to become stronger and more effective. Mariadele Priest from Fannie Mae went through the nuts and bolts of putting together an employer assisted housing program that works. A spirited panel discussion on Association Health Plans put a number of issues on the table and challenged those on both sides of the debate.
A fife-and-drum corps from Fort Ticonderoga led the way into the Council’s Legislative Reception, but what kept CANYS members awake into the evening was an intense and informative closed-door “shirtsleeves session,” where some of the most pointed conversations of the conference took place.
Kenneth Adams, our chairman, delivered a rousing briefing on where CANYS is headed in 2004, while Jeff Lovell from Governor Pataki’s office commented on the budget, the governor’s legislative priorities, and the state-wide Centers of Excellence program. Joan Testa of Chamber Development Services, Inc. shared new data on New York’s chamber trends in membership and dues structure. Mike Lorenz of DestiNY USA gave a multi-media presentation explaining the benefits and opportunities in the DestiNY project.
Want to join CANYS at the next event? Plan to attend Small Business Day in Albany on Tuesday, March 23rd!
Small Business Day sponsorships available . . .
The Business Council has begun planning for its largest small business event of the year - Small Business Day, to be held Tuesday, March 23, 2004, at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.
Small Business Day is the single most important lobbying event for the small business person in New York State. This annual event brings hundreds of small business owners to Albany to meet with policy makers to work to improve our economic environment, and is also an excellent opportunity for you to reach this audience by becoming an Associate Sponsor.
As an Associate Sponsor, your chamber/association name will be printed in the event material and you can hang your banner in the Convention Center of the Empire State Plaza. Please review this information for further details, and return the Application for Sponsorship today! If you have any questions, please feel free call Maribeth Riley at 1-800-358-1202.
Tell us about it . . .
Congratulations to Marsha Gordon, CANYS Excellence in Leadership Award recipient for 2004, for her outstanding service to The Business Council of Westchester and the greater chamber community. Marsha was presented the award at the Legislators’ Luncheon in conjunction with the Legislative and Leadership conference on Tuesday. Best wishes!
The Chenango County Chamber of Commerce is seeking an individual to serve as a Business Development/Zone Coordinator. Responsibilities include development, coordination and implementation of programs and services to attract new business and retain and expand existing business. This includes, but is not limited to: development, implementation and measurement of program effectiveness; preparation and administration of grant applications for economic development; managing prospect development; tracking and reporting of economic trends in the Chenango County area (including monthly and annual Empire Zone reports); and knowledge of local, state and federal business assistance and incentive programs. The ability to effectively organize ideas through the use of written and oral communications and to maintain confidentiality, where appropriate, is critical. A bachelor's degree in a related field, and three years of increasingly responsible experience in economic development, or a combination of relevant education and experience, are required. Please send a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to the Chenango County Chamber of Commerce, Attn: Tammy J. Carnrike, CCE, 19 Eaton Avenue, Norwich, NY 13815.
Got a question you’d like to ask other CANYS members? Job opening in your chamber? Great idea you’d like to share? Send it to maggie.moree@bcnys.org.
