Opinion

The Tax Relief Commission issued its final report in December. The commission was established by Governor Cuomo and was charged with providing recommendations to cut $2 billion in state taxes over three years. Included in its final report were property-tax relief recommendations that the governor will consider. Three property-tax relief recommendations were outlined. They include […]

Max Baucus, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, donned his Dracula costume last month, and proposed retroactive taxation on the business community. Unlike Bela Lugosi in the original 1931 film, where Count Dracula says, “I have come to suck your blood,” Max has pulled on his rubber gloves and decided to probe the

Recently, the Tax Relief Commission led by former New York Gov. George Pataki and former Comptroller H. Carl McCall issued its recommendations to save New Yorkers $2 billion in taxes over the next three years. The commission recognized immediately that New York’s tax burden is too expensive for homeowners and is crippling the state’s economy,

On Dec. 10, the U.S. Treasury Department sold off its last shares of General Motors’ stock (NYSE: GM). Both President Obama and the Treasury Secretary Jack Lew touted the company bailouts — Chrysler was also bailed out — as a success. Let’s do a quick review to understand what “success” means in Washington doublespeak. President

It is widely understood that New York is a high-tax state. New York state citizens are acutely aware of this fact. It is hardly surprising then that the governor, being the politician that he is, has appointed not one, but two, commissions to examine how to reform the Empire State’s tax system. The first commission

The Business Council of New York State, Inc. is urging the New York Legislature to repeal the annual wage-notification provision of the Wage Theft Prevention Act. “The wage notification and acknowledgement requirement of the Wage Theft Prevention Act provides little, if any, additional benefit to employees,” Ken Pokalsky, vice president of government affairs for The

Pope Francis tells us lately the free market is a wicked enemy. It must be restrained. He calls it a “new tyranny.” He insists the successes of free markets have “never been confirmed by the facts.” Ronald Reagan used to say that facts are stubborn things. On economic matters the president had a better grip

“Heroes” in mythology are endowed with great courage and strength; they are celebrated for their bold exploits. “Heroes” can also be people who risk or sacrifice their lives. My heroes are those entrepreneurs noted for building thriving regional corporations and for nurturing our communities through their generosity of time, treasure, and talent. Communities grow and

This no doubt happened to you at points in your life. My guess is that it left a bitter taste. Something similar is leaving that bitter taste with millions of Americans today. It happened to me when I was a young executive with a small manufacturer in upstate New York. The owner promised me a

If you look around our cities and towns, you have to know that big retail chains destroyed a way of life. Today you shop in malls instead of small stores — in supermarkets instead of corner groceries. Department stores died. Eventually Walmart will offer everything from brain surgery to funerals — and all that. The