Crains New York - June 10, 2013 - (Page 6)

HIGHER EDUCATION Crain’s New York Business Guide to Higher Education is a valuable resource providing a look at key offerings from leading education institutions, highlighting available courses, specialized programs and upcoming events to help you expand your leadership opportunities in the workplace. Special Advertising Section Biz to Albany: First, do no harm A ISSUE DATE: 8/12/13 CLOSE DATE: 7/12/13 For advertising information, please contact: by Andrew J. Hawkins and Laura Lorenzetti istockphoto THE GUIDE TO THE INSIDER Irene Bar-Am (212) 210-0133 ibaram@crainsnewyork.com good-government group’s Albany report last week bore the headline: “Legislature set for one of the least productive sessions in recent history.” Citizens Union’s account went on to note that state lawmakers are “on track to duplicate their performance from last year, when they passed the fewest two-house bills since 1914.” While the group characterized the lack of action as lawmakers “performing badly,” business interests see a bright side to the gridlock. The business lobby typically devotes less effort to passing bills than to blocking them. Hence, the Legislature’s approval of just 123 bills with eight session days remaining, down from its 98-year low of 139 at the same point last year, was reason for optimism. But business interests remain concerned about a number of bills, among them a measure to guarantee a prevailing wage to service workers hired by utility companies. The Senate Labor Committee voted to move the bill to the Finance Committee last week, where it was likely to be modified before being taken up by the full Senate.The bill, which was expected to pass in the Assembly, is supported by labor unions but opposed by utility companies, private-sector groups and business improvement districts. State Sen. Diane Savino, a former union organizer who sponsored the bill and chairs the Labor Committee, said the bill does not create a “wage floor” for companies but merely sets a standard for similar work performed in a given region of the state. She said it targets large utility companies like Consolidated Edison that get state subsidies. Utilities outsource some work to contractors who pay workers far less than the utilities’ employees make. “A huge corporation like Con Ed can certainly afford to pay a decent wage,” Ms. Savino said. A Con Ed spokesman said the bill sets wages for competitively bid contracts and “would cost [customers] millions of dollars annually.” Concerns raised by BIDs in New York City that the measure would also apply to them led to its veto by then-Gov. David Paterson in 2010. Ms. Savino said the bill has been amended to exclude BIDs. Another bill worrying business leaders facilitates genderdiscrimination lawsuits against employers. As part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s women’s rights agenda, it 6 | Crain’s New York Business | June 10, 2013 won’t be vetoed, and Senate Republicans have objected only to abortion measures in the Cuomo package. “We are concerned this poses the risk for unnecessary legal action,” said Ken Pokalsky of the Business Council of New York State. The council is also fighting a measure that protects an employee’s right to share wage information, and another that extends protections of the National Labor Relations Act to certain managers. Political charities New York state nonprofits will be required to reveal their political spending as a result of regulations unveiled by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in response to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, which triggered heavy campaign advertising by taxexempt organizations. “The loophole for donations, the vehicle of choice for dark money, is 501(c)(4) charities,” said Mr. Schneiderman, referring to nonprofits that are permitted to engage in political activities. His regulations allow for closer scrutiny of such nonprofits but will not force them to reveal individual donors. Nonprofits registered with the state will have to report annually the percentage of their expenditures that goes to election campaigns, and any group that spends more than $10,000 in a year must file an itemized account of expenses and contributions. All disclosures will be posted online. The rules will cover some political spending for the 2013 elections and take full effect next year. Ⅲ

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crains New York - June 10, 2013

SOURCE DINNER
IN THE BOROUGHS
IN THE MARKETS
DIGITAL NY
THE INSIDER
BUSINESS PEOPLE
SMALL BUSINESS
OPINION
STEVE HINDY
GREG DAVID
REPORT: HEALTH CARE
THE LIST
FOR THE RECORD
CLASSIFIEDS
REAL ESTATE DEALS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
OUT AND ABOUT
SNAPS

Crains New York - June 10, 2013