Federal Issues

  • Cap-and-Trade
    The BCW is committed to the overall goals of climate change regulation that encourages energy efficiencies, cultivates needed renewable energy research and development and spurs a new generation of green-collar jobs. We urge policy makers to ensure that jobs are secured and local interests fortified while implementing federal cap-and-trade Moreover, any federal legislation must avoid pitting states and regions against each other and provide a uniform, fair standard for all states and regions within the U.S.

    More than 48 percent of New York State's energy portfolio is made up of clean, affordable and sustainable resources, such as hydro and nuclear power. These factors contribute to New York's distinction of producing the lowest per capita carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. To avoid putting New York State at a disadvantage, the definition of renewable and sustainable energy at the federal level must endorse the classification of hydro, nuclear and waste energy.
  • Employee Free Choice Act (Card-Check)
    We oppose this legislation which would end secret ballots in union elections. If a majority of employees sign authorization forms, or cards, a union would be formed and employers would have 120 days to reach a contract. Failing that, the government would appoint an arbitrator to impose contract terms.

    This bill undermines the long standing principle of workplace democracy and fairness created through the secret ballot. Its elimination will subject employees to intimidation by unions and peers. Binding arbitration will put substantial cost pressures on businesses, many of whom have little or no experience in negotiating key issues such as wages, benefits and worker productivity. The legislation would also impose fines of up to $20,000 per violation, triple back pay and increase the use of injunctions against employers.
  • Health Care Reform
    Health care reform is critical to the business community. Collectively, America's employers provide coverage to over 170 million Americans and voluntarily pay over $500 billion to insure their employees. Ever-rising health care costs are threatening the viability of U.S. businesses and job security for millions of Americans.

    The Business Council of Westchester supports reforming the health care system by focusing on the following three areas:

    • Get Costs Under Control: Utilize a number of cost-effective strategies such as medical liability reform, health information technology, small business pooling, combating fraud and abuse, consumer-driven health options, wellness prevention, administrative simplification, and allowing individuals and small business to deduct the full cost of health insurance expenses
    • Reform the Insurance System: This would include eliminating the use of pre-existing conditions or health status and guaranteed insurance for all individuals or entities without revocation. An individual obligation to obtain coverage would be required and would raise billions for the government to spend on subsidies for the poor. New rating rules would make the system fair for small businesses and the self-employed.
    • Create a vibrant market place: Create a national all-inclusive connector/exchange that removes fragmentation, allows businesses and individuals from anywhere in the country to enroll and improves pooling, choice and competition

    Our major areas of concern with the legislation under consideration are employer mandates ( employer "pay-or-play" provisions), a government –run plan that would shift costs to the private sector and devastate the employer-sponsored system and the various taxes, including income tax surcharges and taxing certain employer-sponsored benefit plans that would be levied to pay for reform.

    Unlike many other states, New York already has the broadest safety net of subsidized health coverage options of any state in the nation, paid for by huge health taxes charged to the state’s employers and others, representing as much as 10% of the cost of coverage. Therefore it is essential that national reform legislation particularly avoid adding new costs to employers in a state that already has above average costs.

  • Immigration Reform
    The U.S. immigration system fails to meet the current needs of our businesses, our workers and our economy. We strongly advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that goes beyond border security and workplace enforcement measures. Comprehensive reform must also create effective legal avenues for people to enter and leave the U.S. and allow those already contributing to our society to earn permanent residence.

    We support the development of appropriate temporary and permanent employment-based visa categories to encompass a wide range of skills, along with provisions for sufficient number of visas based on market demand. The visa programs, especially the H-1B program for foreign skilled workers, must remain flexible and accessible. We endorse the development of an effective, secure and workable computerized verification system to enable employers to accurately and fairly determine the legal status of potential employees.
  • Medicaid Reform
    Medicaid reform designed to reduce costs to New York State are long overdue and are now even more pressing given the expansion of Medicaid and the cuts in Medicaid spending being considered as parts of the national health care reform legislation. Shifts in Medicaid spending would have greater consequences on New York’s health care delivery system than they would in most other states since our generous benefits account for one out of every three health care dollars. In addition, since Medicaid expenses are shared with local governments in New York, local property taxes would increase under the current federal reform legislation. The Business Council of Westchester advocates for a well-justified increase in Medicaid funding to New York State to address the low comparative percentage of federal Medicaid assistance that currently applies.
  • Transportation
    Funding for a new Hudson River crossing that will include a mass transit component is a huge endeavor that requires the evaluation of many financing alternatives. We will continue to pursue Federal funds for this critical infrastructure project, starting with a request to inject special funding for the Tappan Zee Bridge and mass transit along the I/287 corridor as part of the SAFETEA-LU multi-year transportation bill.
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