http://www.nfib.com/Keep up with the latest news, politics and events for small business in New York.en-usEM3 iOnwebmaster@nfib.orghttp://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37119.htmlNFIB/New York State Director Mike Elmendorf responded to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's comments in the media suggesting that any proposal to cap property tax growth was dead – before two state commissions studying the cost of local government and property taxes had completed their work – with a letter to the Speaker that was circulated to the full Legislature.Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37043.htmlLetter from NFIB/New York State Director Mike Elmendorf to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver: "It was with great concern and disappointment that I read media accounts suggesting that you were closing the door on the concept of a property tax cap -- before the Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness has even completed its work or presented its recommendations."Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36999.htmlIt has been quiet in Albany with the Legislature on recess this week, although the news was dominated by Gov. David Paterson's continued efforts to reign in state spending, which he has labeled "out of control."Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36881.htmlThe arduous task of coming to agreement on a state budget has essentially monopolized the Capitol since our last report to you.</br></br>Lawmakers -- for the first time in several years -- missed the April 1 deadline for enactment of the state budget. However, given the turmoil in Albany following the resignation of Eliot Spitzer, that the budget came in only nine days behind schedule was no small feat.Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36777.htmlBig Labor and their allies in Albany are pushing a plan to impose a 12-week paid family leave mandate on virtually every private employer in the State of New York, regardless of size. The benefit would be paid by changing the Temporary Disability Insurance program to include non-disability related absences from work. Unlike the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, which applies only to businesses with more than 50 employees, this proposal contains no exemption for small business.Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36778.htmlIn a legitimate effort to protect workers building skyscrapers more than a century ago, New York passed the Scaffold Law. But what once was a necessary statute to protect workers has now been twisted to create a standard of absolute liability for employers whose workers experience gravity-related injuries on the job -- with no consideration whatsoever of the worker's own potential liability or failure to follow established safety procedures.Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36779.htmlNew Yorkers pay the highest property taxes in the nation. Local property taxes increased 42 percent from 2000 to 2005 -- more than three times the rate of inflation. Property taxes are by far the largest and fastest growing component of most New Yorkers' tax bills. State school aid for the 2007-08 school year increased $1.76 billion or 9.8 percent, for a total of $19.65 billion over the 2006–07 level, the highest school aid increase ever. Yet, despite this increase, property taxes continue to increase. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36780.htmlHealth insurance benefits mandated by the Legislature cost small businesses annually more than $1,000 per employee. Individual policyholders currently pay $445 and family policyholders pay $1,066 extra every year just to cover state mandates. These policies affect the ability of our small businesses to provide health insurance to their employees and their families, and place the future of employment-based health insurance at risk. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36781.htmlLegislation was introduced that would impose a new $8.4 billion tax on business. Specifically, the bill would impose a $3 per hour/per worker health tax on businesses that don't cover the cost of at least 80 percent of an employee's health insurance. The sponsors of the bill are selling this plan as a way to achieve universal health coverage; however, it would disproportionately hit small businesses and employers who are already struggling with the skyrocketing cost of healthcare. Since these taxes would increase with the size of payroll, adding new jobs would trigger higher taxes.Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36782.htmlFor the last several years, small businesses have identified the rising cost of health insurance as among the most serious problems facing New York's small business community.Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36783.htmlThe state's Healthy NY program offers streamlined, yet comprehensive health insurance. Its benefit package, combined with State funding, has created more affordable health insurance coverage. Small businesses and sole proprietors wishing to purchase Healthy NY must meet certain eligibility criteria to participate.Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36784.htmlLast year, the state passed a law that would allow unions and employers the ability to buy into Family Health Plus, a public health insurance program currently available to single adults, couples without children, and parents with limited income who are residents of New York state. Family Health Plus provides comprehensive coverage, including prevention, primary care, hospitalization, prescriptions and other services. There are minimal co-payments for some Family Health Plus services. Healthcare is provided through participating managed care plans in your area.Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36785.htmlIn 2004, New York increased the state minimum wage to its current rate of $7.15 per hour. This legislation also provided that New York would rise to match any prospective increase in the federal minimum wage over the current state rate. In May, the federal minimum wage was set to increase from $5.16 to $5.85 in 2007, $6.55 in 2008 and $7.25 in 2009. Legislation (A.9618A) has been proposed to increase New York's minimum wage even further to $7.75 in 2008, $8 in 2009, and $8.25 in 2010. It would also increase the minimum wage for years subsequent to 2011 by indexing the rate based upon inflation and the consumer price index. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36786.htmlWorkers' compensation in New York has long been an impediment to economic growth. With the second-highest premiums for employers and the second-worst benefits in the nation for workers, New York is a bad deal for both job providers and their employees. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36787.htmlWick's law requires that state and municipalities separately bid the plumbing, heating, electrical and HVAC work on public construction projects exceeding $50,000. Multiple bidding has had the effect of increasing overall construction costs by an estimated 8 to 30 percent, delaying projects and, in some cases, preventing projects from going forward at all. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36788.htmlFormer Gov. Spitzer proposed to expand the bottle deposit law to include other products such as bottled water, juice and tea. While at least outwardly aimed at the commendable goal of increasing recycling, the law also would have created a windfall for the state on unredeemed deposits, while creating a costly and messy logistical nightmare for small retailers. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36789.htmlMany companies are hiring independent contractors for functions that in the past may have been performed by employees. This results in savings, since businesses are not responsible for withholding payroll taxes or paying employee benefit costs for independent contractors. Independent contractors are also excluded from coverage under unemployment insurance laws, withholding requirements, and overtime and minimum wage requirements, and they do not have to carry workers' compensation insurance. However, there is currently no legal definition of what constitutes an independent contractor. The IRS has developed a 20-step test based on case law to determine independent contractor status, but the test is subjective and not easy to pass.Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36790.htmlSmall businesses have cited high energy costs as a major obstacle to future growth, profitability and new job creation. To address this problem, the Senate advanced in their Upstate Now legislation (S.5953) a tax credit program that would help small businesses with the rising cost of energy. The bill would specifically provide a credit of two cents per kilowatt hour directly to eligible small businesses tax liability. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36677.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on small business issues such as tax relief, healthcare and minimum wage in New York, April/May 2008 edition.Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36709.htmlGov. David Paterson, less than two weeks into the job, Thursday night was joined by legislative leaders in announcing agreement on a framework for a state budget. While details are still emerging at this time, Gov. Paterson said there was "no plan" to raise taxes, although what that pronouncement meant to "fee increases" (which in our view are tax increases) was uncertain. Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36579.html"Governor David Paterson has done the right thing by coming out against the Assembly's proposed personal income tax increase. Worsening the state's already overwhelming tax burden would be bad policy at a particularly bad time. Increasing the personal income tax is particularly troubling for small business owners since many report business income through the personal income tax."Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36583.html"Congressman Tom Reynolds' announcement today that he will not seek re-election is sad news for New York's small business owners, entrepreneurs and job creators."Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36513.htmlThe budget process became quite uncertain this week as Gov. Eliot Spitzer was engulfed in a scandal that forced his resignation. After a day of paralysis as the Capitol, the Senate and Assembly began moving on their individual budget plans. These are a prelude to the public conference committee process at which both houses will work together to reconcile their budgets. Leaders of both houses profess optimism that a budget can still be concluded by the April 1 deadline.Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36456.html"Governor Eliot Spitzer and Senate Majority Leader Bruno are to be commended for standing against the proposal being floated by the Assembly majority and the anti-business 'Working Families Party' to raise income taxes in New York by as much as $5 billion."Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36410.htmlAssemblyman Will Barclay -- who was endorsed by NFIB/New York SAFE Trust in the Feb. 26 special election to fill the Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence county Senate seat vacated by the resignation of Sen. Jim Wright -- was defeated in a close race by Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine. This leaves the Senate's pro-small business majority with a margin of just one seat. We congratulate Sen. Aubertine on his victory in this hard-fought campaign.Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36164.htmlOn Feb. 26, a special election will be held in the 48th Senate District to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of longtime Sen. Jim Wright. The 48th District is comprised of Jefferson, Oswego and part of St. Lawrence counties in the North Country.Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36058.htmlWith an uncertain economic outlook and rising energy and health care costs to contend with, small businesses are pleading with legislators to reject plans for costly new mandates that could be crippling. A Member Ballot submitted by New York members of the National Federation of Independent Business released today by their leading representative group shows entrenched opposition to separate proposals to implement a 12-week paid family leave benefit and to increase the state's minimum wage beyond the recently raised federal minimum wage. Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35970.htmlSpecial NFIB member report on small business issues such as health care, energy and activism in New York, February/March 2008 edition.Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36023.htmlNew York's leading small-business association, the National Federation of Independent Business, has endorsed Will Barclay in the upcoming special election for the 48th district Senate seat vacated by the retirement of Sen. Jim Wright.Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST