State forms temporary council to review New York’s business climate

ALBANY, N.Y. — State leaders have formed a temporary business-regulation council that will conduct a “comprehensive review of New York State’s business climate.”

The group will make recommendations on additional ways to decrease the cost of doing business in the state “while not compromising protections in place for working men and women,” the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release issued April 14.

The seven-member council will include business representatives, labor leaders, and workforce advocates.

The council will study issues that include are unemployment insurance; workers’ compensation; temporary disability insurance; energy; taxes; and other business-related costs, according to Cuomo’s office.

The group will conduct a series of forums and meetings to hear from business groups, labor groups, and other interested stakeholders.

It’ll make recommendations to state leaders by June 3, allowing them to consider the recommendations before the end of the 2016 legislative session, Cuomo’s office said.

“This action builds upon the progress our administration has made to lower taxes and improve this state’s economic climate, while also ensuring workers are being treated fairly,” Cuomo said in the news release. “I look forward to receiving the council’s recommendations and I thank the members for working with us to find ways to further lower the costs of doing business and build a stronger and more prosperous New York for all.”

Council members
Gov. Cuomo’s appointees to the council include Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO; Ted Potrikus, president and CEO of the Retail Council of New York State; and Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City.

Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan’s appointees include Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of the Business Council of New York State, Inc. and Dean Norton, president of the New York Farm Bureau.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s appointees include Gary LaBarbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and Robert Grey, chairman of the New York Workers’ Compensation Alliance.

The Business Council of New York State, Inc. released a statement from Briccetti that same day.

“After several years of progress in New York — controlling state spending, reducing business taxes, restraining real property taxes, and more — this year’s budget produced far more harm than good for the state’s economy, and dimmed prospects for renewed economic growth upstate. Fortunately, there are many steps that can be taken to lower costs, reduce barriers and promote growth. These include: the immediate reduction of workers compensation costs, expedited project approvals, and the removal of the hidden taxes on energy, insurance and health care. All New Yorkers need is the state’s political leaders to reach consensus and implement them. If this task force can be a vehicle for bringing the administration, senate and assembly together on an agenda to promote these changes and produce private sector job growth and investment, we are willing to participate,” Briccetti said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com