Probably one of the more important advocacy victories the U.S. business community has achieved, the DISCLOSE Act failed an MTP (Motion-to-Proceed) vote in the U.S. Senate this afternoon. The motion required 60 votes to move DISCLOSE - which among other things would have imposed burdensome restrictions on corporations' political involvement while not imposing those same restrictions on unions - to the Senate for a vote. It failed 57-41.
The Partnership has weighed in on DISCLOSE a number of times in conjunction with a nationwide effort organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce - including challenging Senator Schumer (Senate sponsor of the bill) directly on it when he visited the Partnership last week. The legislation is nothing more than an attempt to tip the political scale toward Democrat incumbents in the mid-term elections this fall by silencing the business community. The legislation is one of the more obvious labor givebacks we've seen, and we are fortunate that the Senate has defeated it - particularly since undoing the lopsided advantage it would've caused would've been a monumental task.
The blatant attempt to keep the business community, which has been critical of the Washington in its current alignment, quiet during the political season will surely be an election issue for many across the nation this year.
Please note that the fight is not over, as immediately after the vote, special interest supporters of DISCLOSE said they will continue to push the legislation, possibly for a lame duck vote after the elections. The Hill quotes Senator Schumer as saying the majority will attempt to “go back at this bill again and again and again until we pass it.” We'll be keeping a close watch.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
High Speed Rail Update
Some items of interest in the NY's on-going push for high speed rail funding...
Though Albany seems to not be able to get much done, both houses in the Legislature did pass versions of a bill creating a High Speed Rail Planning Board. The bill, which needs a final vote in the State Senate and Governor Paterson's signature (both of which are expected to be forthcoming), would create a planning board tasked with recommending the best government structure to manage NY's high speed rail project on an on-going basis, as well as funding options. This is a big step in providing validity to NY's HSR goals - it was not coincidence that the recipients of first-round HSR funding in the federal stimulus had governance structures in place.
Phase II of federal high speed rail funding is upon us, however we find ourselves at a disadvantage, as the environmental impact statement for the New York's "Empire Corridor" is not yet complete (it is underway and will be complete within two years). The NYS DOT can apply for $245MM of a total of $2.35B available in this round of funding, and will likely resubmit Phase I projects that were ranked high, but went unfunded when the high speed rail funding ran out. More to follow on which projects will be included in the next ask.
A national high speed rail conference will be held in New York City this fall, and the NYS High Speed Rail Coalition is providing planning assistance and representing Upstate. The Partnership has offered to once again help make the connection of the bi-national interest in high speed rail shared with Canada - we're advocating that the importance of the Buffalo-Toronto HSR line receive its time as a topic at the conference.
Though Albany seems to not be able to get much done, both houses in the Legislature did pass versions of a bill creating a High Speed Rail Planning Board. The bill, which needs a final vote in the State Senate and Governor Paterson's signature (both of which are expected to be forthcoming), would create a planning board tasked with recommending the best government structure to manage NY's high speed rail project on an on-going basis, as well as funding options. This is a big step in providing validity to NY's HSR goals - it was not coincidence that the recipients of first-round HSR funding in the federal stimulus had governance structures in place.
Phase II of federal high speed rail funding is upon us, however we find ourselves at a disadvantage, as the environmental impact statement for the New York's "Empire Corridor" is not yet complete (it is underway and will be complete within two years). The NYS DOT can apply for $245MM of a total of $2.35B available in this round of funding, and will likely resubmit Phase I projects that were ranked high, but went unfunded when the high speed rail funding ran out. More to follow on which projects will be included in the next ask.
A national high speed rail conference will be held in New York City this fall, and the NYS High Speed Rail Coalition is providing planning assistance and representing Upstate. The Partnership has offered to once again help make the connection of the bi-national interest in high speed rail shared with Canada - we're advocating that the importance of the Buffalo-Toronto HSR line receive its time as a topic at the conference.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Join Comptroller candidate Harry Wilson at the GAC Mixer!
Harry Wilson, the Republican nominee for New York State Comptroller, running against the unelected, Working Families Party-endorsed Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, is the first "New York State candidate" to visit the Partnership this election season (we've met with several candidates for U.S. Senate).
Wilson has a "Why I'm Running" position paper, and the first line is one of the most refreshing we've heard from a candidate in quite some time, he says "I am Running for State Comptroller Because… New York State government has failed us. There is no other way to put it." Wow. Finally a candidate that gets what Upstate New York has been screaming for years. Unsustainable wasteful spending. The highest taxes in the United States. People, and businesses, leaving in droves.
Comptroller DiNapoli's campaign website's headline is “I’m watching every taxpayer dime. It’s your money, and it’s my job to protect it.” Unfortunately, special interests, like the public unions and Working Families Party, that support DiNapoli want to see more of those dimes be taken from taxpayers and wasted in Albany. A former NYS Comptroller once came to Erie County and said the county needed "adult supervision" and his office was the place to provide that supervision. Never before has it been more apparent that the NYS Legislature REQUIRES adult supervision, and DiNapoli isn't providing it. And why should he? As an unelected Comptroller, he was appointed by the very body that requires his supervision.
Wilson, on the other hand, has a novel approach to the Comptroller's duties. In addition to overseeing the State Pension Fund, he believes "the Comptroller has the power to audit every dollar of government spending in New York – the state budget, every municipality and school district and every one of the 800-plus authorities." Can you imagine how different this year's 100+ days late budget process would have proceeded had the Legislature believed they could be audited? No more "one-shot" revenue fixes. No more unrealistic and wasteful budgets. Wilson goes on to say, "Government takes well over $250 billion of taxes and fees out of New Yorkers’ pockets, and I intend to cut through that out-of-control spending in a way that no Comptroller has done in decades. " Again, WOW. A lot of politicians talk about cutting spending and reducing taxes. Wilson has shown as Comptroller he has the power to actually follow through on those promises.
Harry Wilson will be addressing the Government Affairs Committee on Monday, July 26th at 3:30 PM here at the Partnership. We welcome anyone who would like to hear what Wilson has to say about his campaign, the financial situation of New York State, and how he intends to fix it to join us. More information and reservations can be made here. Hope to see you there!
Wilson has a "Why I'm Running" position paper, and the first line is one of the most refreshing we've heard from a candidate in quite some time, he says "I am Running for State Comptroller Because… New York State government has failed us. There is no other way to put it." Wow. Finally a candidate that gets what Upstate New York has been screaming for years. Unsustainable wasteful spending. The highest taxes in the United States. People, and businesses, leaving in droves.
Comptroller DiNapoli's campaign website's headline is “I’m watching every taxpayer dime. It’s your money, and it’s my job to protect it.” Unfortunately, special interests, like the public unions and Working Families Party, that support DiNapoli want to see more of those dimes be taken from taxpayers and wasted in Albany. A former NYS Comptroller once came to Erie County and said the county needed "adult supervision" and his office was the place to provide that supervision. Never before has it been more apparent that the NYS Legislature REQUIRES adult supervision, and DiNapoli isn't providing it. And why should he? As an unelected Comptroller, he was appointed by the very body that requires his supervision.
Wilson, on the other hand, has a novel approach to the Comptroller's duties. In addition to overseeing the State Pension Fund, he believes "the Comptroller has the power to audit every dollar of government spending in New York – the state budget, every municipality and school district and every one of the 800-plus authorities." Can you imagine how different this year's 100+ days late budget process would have proceeded had the Legislature believed they could be audited? No more "one-shot" revenue fixes. No more unrealistic and wasteful budgets. Wilson goes on to say, "Government takes well over $250 billion of taxes and fees out of New Yorkers’ pockets, and I intend to cut through that out-of-control spending in a way that no Comptroller has done in decades. " Again, WOW. A lot of politicians talk about cutting spending and reducing taxes. Wilson has shown as Comptroller he has the power to actually follow through on those promises.
Harry Wilson will be addressing the Government Affairs Committee on Monday, July 26th at 3:30 PM here at the Partnership. We welcome anyone who would like to hear what Wilson has to say about his campaign, the financial situation of New York State, and how he intends to fix it to join us. More information and reservations can be made here. Hope to see you there!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
SBIR in danger (again)!
As many of you know, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly specialized form of funding, administered by 10 federal agencies for small firms to perform cutting-edge R & D that addresses the nation's most critical scientific and engineering needs. These needs span the technology spectrum – from advanced manufacturing and agriculture to energy and medicine. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, the program has been plagued by uncertainty since 2008 due to continued stalling by Congress on a long-term re-authorization for the $2.5B program.
Now, for the 8th time in 2 years, the SBIR program is in jeopardy (again)! The current continuing resolution (CR), Congress’s preferred method of re-authorization, expires on July 31, 2010. Without re-authorization or another continuing resolution, as of August 1st, small technology-based companies across the country that depend on this vital source of federal money to continue their innovative work will lose their leading source of early stage capital due to the limited access they have to private investment by angel investors and venture capital (VC) firms.
So, where does re-authorization stand now – two weeks before its current sunset?
Currently, advocates of the program are awaiting details on the House’s response to the now-expired (since December 31, 2009) Senate compromise on the two vastly different SBIR re-authorization bills, H.R. 2965 and S.1233. The Senate originally delivered a generous compromise in October but the House responded just weeks ago. While the House’s response has not been publicly disclosed, it is widely believed reconciliation of the two bills will again hinge on the issue of SBIR eligibility for VC-backed firms.
Back in October, when the Partnership weighed in on the issue, we voiced our opposition to the inclusion of these types of firms due to the fact that they would crowd-out smaller start-ups and “potentially redistribute funding to areas with greater number of venture capital (VC) backed firms resulting in less SBIR/STTR dollars awarded to small Upstate New York companies.” In light of this fact, we feel strongly that criterion for funding must reflect the fact that the SBIR program is often the only access small businesses have to federal research and development procurement.
Once details of the House's reconciliation plan become public, the Partnership will continue to advocate for long-term re-authorization of this vital funding for innovation. Click here to see our advocacy related the reinstatement of a competitive dollar-for-dollar NYS SBIR-matching funds program that would provide Buffalo Niagara businesses with additional resources to complement their existing federal awards. And, make sure to check back here at the end of July to find out the latest news on SBIR re-authorization.
Now, for the 8th time in 2 years, the SBIR program is in jeopardy (again)! The current continuing resolution (CR), Congress’s preferred method of re-authorization, expires on July 31, 2010. Without re-authorization or another continuing resolution, as of August 1st, small technology-based companies across the country that depend on this vital source of federal money to continue their innovative work will lose their leading source of early stage capital due to the limited access they have to private investment by angel investors and venture capital (VC) firms.
So, where does re-authorization stand now – two weeks before its current sunset?
Currently, advocates of the program are awaiting details on the House’s response to the now-expired (since December 31, 2009) Senate compromise on the two vastly different SBIR re-authorization bills, H.R. 2965 and S.1233. The Senate originally delivered a generous compromise in October but the House responded just weeks ago. While the House’s response has not been publicly disclosed, it is widely believed reconciliation of the two bills will again hinge on the issue of SBIR eligibility for VC-backed firms.
Back in October, when the Partnership weighed in on the issue, we voiced our opposition to the inclusion of these types of firms due to the fact that they would crowd-out smaller start-ups and “potentially redistribute funding to areas with greater number of venture capital (VC) backed firms resulting in less SBIR/STTR dollars awarded to small Upstate New York companies.” In light of this fact, we feel strongly that criterion for funding must reflect the fact that the SBIR program is often the only access small businesses have to federal research and development procurement.
Once details of the House's reconciliation plan become public, the Partnership will continue to advocate for long-term re-authorization of this vital funding for innovation. Click here to see our advocacy related the reinstatement of a competitive dollar-for-dollar NYS SBIR-matching funds program that would provide Buffalo Niagara businesses with additional resources to complement their existing federal awards. And, make sure to check back here at the end of July to find out the latest news on SBIR re-authorization.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Senator Schumer visits the Partnership
Throughout each year, we work to bring in our elected officials at various levels of government for "face-time" with our members through our Government Affairs series. These "closed-door" sessions (meaning members-only, no media) are an invaluable connection between the business community and our elected leaders, and provide great opportunity for two-way dialogue. The elected officials let us know that they appreciate the time, and our members (judging by attendance numbers) always take advantage of the opportunity.
This morning, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer spoke with Partnership members for about an hour, going into great depth on the state of the country's economy, and what it means for Western New York. As he always is, he was upfront about decisions that were made - offering his perspective that many of the steps taken by the federal government over the last year-and-a-half may not have been perfect, but they were timely. He pointed to the GM expansion and the jobs saved and created here in Tonawanda as a result of timely action by Washington.
Encouragingly, Senator Schumer talked at great length about UB2020, calling it the "best thing he's ever seen for Western New York." He said that he's spoken with both the Governor and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on UB2020, and urged us to stay strong in our lobbying and politics to make it happen. The Senator also addressed the Peace Bridge Expansion Project, urging the Buffalo Niagara region to "get everything buttoned up" by the spring, when the federal highway reauthorization would be addressed.
Though disagreeing with many in the room, Senator Schumer addressed the labor-friendly movement in Washington, specifically his own bill, the DISCLOSE Act, and the Employee Free Choice Act. The Senator talked about the plight of the middle class in defense of his support for these pieces of legislation, and acknowledged that he and the business community have different philosophies on how to address it.
Overall, it was a good session. While we disagree with the Senator on some federal policy issues, he has been an effective leader in delivering for the Buffalo Niagara region, and promised to continue doing so.
This morning, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer spoke with Partnership members for about an hour, going into great depth on the state of the country's economy, and what it means for Western New York. As he always is, he was upfront about decisions that were made - offering his perspective that many of the steps taken by the federal government over the last year-and-a-half may not have been perfect, but they were timely. He pointed to the GM expansion and the jobs saved and created here in Tonawanda as a result of timely action by Washington.
Encouragingly, Senator Schumer talked at great length about UB2020, calling it the "best thing he's ever seen for Western New York." He said that he's spoken with both the Governor and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on UB2020, and urged us to stay strong in our lobbying and politics to make it happen. The Senator also addressed the Peace Bridge Expansion Project, urging the Buffalo Niagara region to "get everything buttoned up" by the spring, when the federal highway reauthorization would be addressed.
Though disagreeing with many in the room, Senator Schumer addressed the labor-friendly movement in Washington, specifically his own bill, the DISCLOSE Act, and the Employee Free Choice Act. The Senator talked about the plight of the middle class in defense of his support for these pieces of legislation, and acknowledged that he and the business community have different philosophies on how to address it.
Overall, it was a good session. While we disagree with the Senator on some federal policy issues, he has been an effective leader in delivering for the Buffalo Niagara region, and promised to continue doing so.
Friday, July 16, 2010
BuffaloNiagaraJobs.com: Your Resource for Finding Quality Employees
One of the Partnership’s most important workforce development initiatives is the regional jobs website BuffaloNiagaraJobs.com. Formally known as IAmBuffaloNiagaraJobs.com, the website has been a resource for both employers and job seekers for the past ten years.
The website is a truly regional resource, only listing positions located within the 8 counties of WNY. It’s also free to use! Employers can post listings, search for resumes using keywords, education and career levels, and view the number of seekers who have directly applied to their posting.
A key feature of the jobs website is a dropdown menu listing local workforce development resources available to help employers find free or low cost assistance with identifying, hiring, and training employees. We highly encourage employers to explore the site and gain more knowledge about how they can be matched with qualified candidates. The site also provides resources for job seekers including job fairs, networking events, and other information about living and working in our region.
Additionally, if you have interest in promoting your company and/or employment opportunities to the thousands of job seekers using BuffaloNiagaraJobs.com, the website offers several marketing opportunities, as well!
The website is a truly regional resource, only listing positions located within the 8 counties of WNY. It’s also free to use! Employers can post listings, search for resumes using keywords, education and career levels, and view the number of seekers who have directly applied to their posting.
A key feature of the jobs website is a dropdown menu listing local workforce development resources available to help employers find free or low cost assistance with identifying, hiring, and training employees. We highly encourage employers to explore the site and gain more knowledge about how they can be matched with qualified candidates. The site also provides resources for job seekers including job fairs, networking events, and other information about living and working in our region.
Additionally, if you have interest in promoting your company and/or employment opportunities to the thousands of job seekers using BuffaloNiagaraJobs.com, the website offers several marketing opportunities, as well!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Senator Charles Schumer Visiting the Partnership!
On Monday, July 19th, United States Senator Charles Schumer will be participating in the Buffalo Niagara Partnership's Congressional Briefing Series, our annual Government Affairs event where our members can get one-on-one contact with our area's federal representatives. We've already been joined by Congressmen Higgins and Lee, and each session resulted in some interesting dialogue and insight, especially about health care reform and Buffalo's economic development prospects.
Sen. Schumer is highly regarded as one of the most respected and influential members of the United States Senate, which is reflected by his membership on the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the nation’s tax, trade, social security and health care legislation. He also resides as the Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, which oversees federal elections, voting rights, campaign finance, and the operation of the Senate complex. These two committees are some of the most powerful in the Senate, and Sen. Schumer's membership on both allows New York to have a strong voice in DC.
Please join us at 8:30AM at the Buffalo Niagara Partnership on July 19th to inform Sen. Schumer firsthand of the Buffalo Niagara business community's interests in our nation's capitol. You can RSVP here.
While on our Events page - check out the Government Affairs Council Session & Mixer scheduled for July 26th. We are in the process of lining up some very exciting guests, and we should have a energetic and insightful conversation about the upcoming election season... you won't want to miss it!
Sen. Schumer is highly regarded as one of the most respected and influential members of the United States Senate, which is reflected by his membership on the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees the nation’s tax, trade, social security and health care legislation. He also resides as the Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, which oversees federal elections, voting rights, campaign finance, and the operation of the Senate complex. These two committees are some of the most powerful in the Senate, and Sen. Schumer's membership on both allows New York to have a strong voice in DC.
Please join us at 8:30AM at the Buffalo Niagara Partnership on July 19th to inform Sen. Schumer firsthand of the Buffalo Niagara business community's interests in our nation's capitol. You can RSVP here.
While on our Events page - check out the Government Affairs Council Session & Mixer scheduled for July 26th. We are in the process of lining up some very exciting guests, and we should have a energetic and insightful conversation about the upcoming election season... you won't want to miss it!
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