And as if that won’t be challenging enough, some are now also using  this as an opportunity to challenge the new property tax cap. Already we are hearing that the cap, which was passed this last session, will hinder the clean-up efforts.  Some local government officials are saying that the cap ties their hands in what can be raised to make the repairs.

In the face of such a difficult challenge and so much personal suffering, blaming the cap is easy. It lets us fall back on the excuse that “this is how we’ve always done it. “  But before we allow ourselves to go down that familiar, dead end road – and I’m sure many more attempted challenges to the cap lie ahead – let’s instead try to get creative about how we do things.

Let’s think: What can be changed that will allow local governments to rebuild, and do it cost effectively and under the cap?.  Here are a few suggestions:

• When reconstructing or repairing government buildings, suspend the Wick’s Law which by requiring  4  prime contracts raises project costs.  NYC schools have been exempt from the law for years and the savings are well documented;
• Eliminate any Project Labor Agreement (PLA) or Prevailing Wage requirements, which also drive up construction cost;
• Advance to the Governor for his signature a bill by Sen. Ranzenhofer and Assemblyman Heastie which calls for the obtaining best value for contracts for public work and purchase contracts;
• Allow for alternative project delivery, specifically design build, which yields a greater return on investment than traditional design bid build.

For years, many have argued that construction mandates make public works project more expensive.  Others say the additional cost is negligible.  Either way, Irene offers us a chance to study the effects of these laws by temporarily suspending them so that the rebuilding process can start immediately.  At the same time, we can compare project costs with past projects and determine once and for all if these construction mandates do cost more.

Our thoughts and sympathies go out to those affected by the storm.  But New York can help them rebound by fixing the construction mandates we identified.  Suspending the laws will also help our local governments control their costs so that they don’t feel the need to override the tax cap…which in the end would be another costly blow to residents of the affected areas.

What’s Inside

• A Message from Brian Sampson
• Property Tax Cap Agreement Announced*
• University at Buffalo Presents UB 2020 Proposal at Albany Summit*
• Senate Confirms Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services*
• Governor Seeks Federal Disaster Assistance for Spring Floods*
• Attorney General, Comptroller to Work Together on Public Integrity Cases*
• Democrat Wins Special Election in 26th CD*
• Coming Up*
• Unshackle Upstate in the News*

* Content only available to Unshackle Army members.

Sign up today to get the full version of the Unshackle Upstate Update!

A Message from Brian Sampson

Our fight for a property tax cap continues!  On Tuesday, I attended a press conference with Gov. Cuomo and the Legislative Leaders announcing a tentative agreement on a 2-percent property tax cap bill.

While this is certainly great news for the taxpayers across this state, and a direct result of your assistance in helping Unshackle Upstate push this issue, our work is far from over.  We at Unshackle Upstate will continue to work in our communities and in Albany to ensure that a property tax cap bill is signed into law.

We are very close to seeing this critical taxpayer protection become a reality, but we can’t let up in our efforts until the bill is signed into law.

Join our Tax Cap Fight!

Our opponents are trying to derail the agreement on a property tax cap through paid media campaigns, newspaper editorials and lobbying efforts.

Let’s be clear: these groups are fighting for more spending and higher taxes to pay for it.

New York’s taxpayers and businesses shouldn’t tolerate any further delay on this critical issue.

Please ask your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to join with us in calling on legislators to enact the long-overdue property tax cap.

Click here to send your pro tax cap message directly to the Legislature.

Support Unshackle Upstate

We need your help!  Unshackle Upstate continues to fight for Upstate’s taxpayers and job creators and for a New York State with lower taxes, lower spending, reduced mandates and reduced state debt. Our efforts to revive the Upstate economy and promote private sector job growth would be impossible without your support. Whether it’s $50 or $500, your contribution will enable us to amplify our voice in Albany and help fight back against well-funded interests that are committed to maintaining the status quo.  Only by working together, can we change New York and make it a better place to live and work.

Click here to contribute to Unshackle Upstate’s efforts.

If you know of someone who may be interested in Unshackle Upstate Update but who might not be on our distribution list – friends, family members, co-workers – please feel free to forward it to them.  If we are going to get our representatives in Albany to take the tough steps that need to be taken, we need all the help we can get.  In addition, if you would like Unshackle Upstate to speak to your group or make a presentation at an event, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you have any suggestions about how we can improve this product, please feel free to contact me via e-mail at brian.sampson@unshackleupstate.com.

From the Desk of the Executive Director Brian Sampson

What’s Inside

• A Message from Brian Sampson

- Support Unshackle Upstate

- Join Our Fight

• Governor Reaches Agreement on New Contract with First Public Employee Union*
• Senate Confirms Burke, Beardon*
• Assembly Approves Rent Control Measures; Calls for Tax Cap Grow*
• Polls Show Support for Governor, Support for Action on Major Issues*
• Top Assembly Aid to Leave*
• DiNapoli Critical of Local Development Corporations*
• Moliarno to Run for Dutchess County Executive*
• Report Calls for Investment in New York State Biopharmaceutical Industry*
• Hevesi Sentenced to Prison for Pension Fund Corruption*
• Coming Up*

* Content only available to Unshackle Army members.

Sign up here to receive the full version of the Unshackle Upstate Update.

A Message from Brian Sampson

Following the resounding budget victory for the taxpayers and job creators of this state, our hard work and efforts continue on many of the “non budgetary” items that remain open in Albany.  Unshackle Upstate’s top priority continues to be the enactment of Gov. Cuomo’s 2% Property Tax Cap legislation.  On Tuesday, April 12, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb and representatives from key pro-tax cap organizations – including Unshackle Upstate – called on the Assembly Majority to pass the 2-percent tax cap bill during a press conference at the State Capitol. You can watch the news conference here. In the coming weeks, we will be increasing our grassroots and advocacy efforts on the property tax cap issue, so please stay tuned!  In addition to Unshackle Upstate’s focus on the property tax cap, we continue to meet with the Legislature and representatives from the Governor’s office on mandate relief and economic development issues.

The Legislature is on recess for the next two weeks, and is scheduled to return to session on Monday, May 2.

Join the Fight for a 2% Property Tax Cap!

With the completion of the state budget, we now have a tremendous opportunity to build on the positive momentum generated and it’s imperative that we continue to focus on many of the “non budget” proposals necessary to making New York State a better place for the taxpayers and businesses that reside here.  We need the Assembly to take immediate action to enact a two-percent property tax cap bill (A.3982 Silver).  We cannot do this alone and need you to continue to contact your local Assembly members in Albany to tell them that you support the tax cap.  We cannot afford any further delays and uncertainty on these issues, and we need you to recruit your family, friends and neighbors to join our efforts.

Click here to send your pro-tax cap message directly to the Assembly.

Support Unshackle Upstate

We need your help!  Unshackle Upstate continues to fight for Upstate’s taxpayers and job creators and for a New York State with lower taxes, lower spending, reduced mandates and reduced state debt. Our efforts to revive the Upstate economy and promote private sector job growth would be impossible without your support. Whether it’s $50 or $500, your contribution will enable us to amplify our voice in Albany and help fight back against well-funded interests that are committed to maintaining the status quo.  Only by working together, can we change New York and make it a better place to live and work.

Click here to contribute to Unshackle Upstate’s efforts.

If you know of someone who may be interested in Unshackle Upstate Update but who might not be on our distribution list – friends, family members, co-workers – please feel free to forward this email to them.  If we are going to get our representatives in Albany to take the tough steps that need to be taken, we need all the help we can get.  In addition, if you would like Unshackle Upstate to speak to your group or make a presentation at an event, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you have any suggestions about how we can improve this product, please feel free to contact me via e-mail at brian.sampson@unshackleupstate.com.

To read the full version of this week’s Unshackle Upstate Update, sign up here!

So, what will I share?

• Little Accomplished in Extraordinary Session
• Legislative Leaders Re-Elected by their Respective Conferences
• Update on Unresolved Races
• Profiles of Newly Elected Legislators

Little Accomplished in Extraordinary Session

The Senate and Assembly returned to Albany this week in response to the Governor’s call for an extraordinary session.  The Governor’s agenda included addressing the current fiscal year $315 million budget deficit through spending cuts, bailing out the NYC OTB, eliminating the notification required prior to the closure of State facilities, and creating a commission to evaluate and adjust judicial salaries.

The Senate was only in session on Monday.  Senate Democrats, missing one member, took up just a few bills and a small number of gubernatorial nominations.  The Senate did not consider the Governor’s spending cuts, but did approve the bill creating a judicial salary commission.

The Assembly was in session on both Monday and Tuesday.  In addition to approving the judicial salary commission bill, the Assembly also approved the NYC OTB bailout and other bills submitted by the Governor for consideration in the extraordinary session.  The Assembly also returned to “regular” session and gave final passage to three bills that the Senate approved earlier this year:  imposing a moratorium on natural gas exploration through May 15, 2011, enacting the wage theft prevention act, and a “chapter amendment” to a measure requiring utility companies (among others) to pay prevailing wages to service workers.

All three of these bills are considered to be unfriendly to business.  The gas exploration bill, due to the bill being poorly written, jeopardizes up to 5,000 current and future jobs.  The bill will actually put a stop to almost all gas extraction.  The Wage Theft bill adds additional paperwork requirements for employers and could lead to litigation and damages for back wages.  The final bill, known as the Service Workers bill, adds more work classifications to the definition of “service worker” and will likely result in higher energy costs for homeowners and businesses.

On Tuesday, Governor-elect Cuomo criticized the Legislature for its inaction, especially on its failure to make budget cuts.

According to published reports, the Senate may return to Albany within the next few weeks to take up at least some of its unfinished business.

Legislative Leaders Re-Elected by their Respective Conferences

All four of the legislative conferences have re-elected their current leaders for the 2011 legislative session.

On Monday, Senator Dean Skelos (R-Nassau County) was re-elected by Senate Republicans as head of their conference.  Currently Senate Minority Leader, he is likely to assume the position of Temporary President and Senate Majority Leader in January.  Skelos said Senator Tom Libous (R-Binghamton), will remain as his top deputy.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) was re-elected by the Assembly Democratic Conference on Monday.  He has served as Assembly Speaker since 1994.

Also on Monday, Senate Democrats re-elected Senator John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) as their leader.  Currently serving as the functional Senate Majority Leader, Sampson is likely to become Senate Minority Leader in January.  Sampson said that Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) will continue as his top deputy.

Earlier this month, the Assembly Republican Conference re-elected Assemblyman Brian Kolb (R-Canandaigua), as their leader.  Kolb will continue to serve as Assembly Minority Leader.

Update on Unresolved Races

U.S. House

Last week, incumbent Democratic Congressman Dan Maffei conceded to Republican Ann Marie Buerkle in the race for the 25^th Congressional District in Central New York.  According to an unofficial count, Buerkle leads by 561 votes, with a few hundred left to be counted.  Buerkle’s win means that the GOP has picked up at least six New York House seats this election cycle.

The only House race that remains unresolved in the nation is in Suffolk County’s 1^st Congressional District.  Incumbent Democrat Tim Bishop leads Republican challenger Randy Altschuler by 214 votes with less than 2,000 votes left to be counted.

State Senate

With the results of two Senate races still outstanding, it is still not certain which party will control the State Senate in 2011.  On Tuesday, incumbent Democratic Senator Antoine Thompson (D-Buffalo) conceded to his opponent, Republican Mark Grisanti.  This victory means that the Senate Republicans one step closer to regaining control of the State Senate, as they will have at least 31 seats in January.

Two Senate races remain unresolved as of this writing.

In Nassau County’s 7^th Senate District, incumbent Democrat Craig Johnson trails Republican challenger Jack Martins by over 400 votes.  Democrats have asked for a hand recount of all the ballots, which could prolong the ballot count for weeks.

In Westchester County’s 37^th Senate District, incumbent Democrat Suzi Oppenheimer leads Republican challenger Bob Cohen by about 370 votes.  Roughly 1,500 ballots must still be counted, and about 400 ballots are being contested.

State Assembly

While the Assembly remains comfortable in Democratic control, the Assembly Republicans picked up a number of seats this fall.  In the 1^st Assembly District in Suffolk County, incumbent Democrat Marc Alessi conceded to Daniel Losquadro last Wednesday.

Two Assembly races remain unresolved as of this writing.  If the current results hold, the Assembly GOP will hold 51 seats in January.

In the 89^th Assembly District in Westchester, incumbent Republican Robert Castelli leads Democratic challenger Thomas Roach by 111 votes.

In the 100^th Assembly District, which includes parts of Dutchess, Ulster and Orange counties, Republican Tom Kirwan holds a 166 vote lead on incumbent Democratic Assemblyman Frank Skartados.   Kirwan held the seat for seven terms before losing to Skartados in 2008.

Profiles of Newly Elected Legislators

Tom O’Mara, 53^rd Senate District

Republican Tom O’Mara, who has served in the Assembly since 2005, was elected to replace Senator George Winner, to represent this Southern Tier/Finger Lakes district.  O’Mara is a former Chemung County District Attorney and Chemung County Attorney. He practices law with Davidson & O’Mara law firm in Elmira.

O’Mara’s priority issues include jobs and economic development, addressing property taxes, reforming Albany, fair distribution of education funding and protecting sportsmen’s rights.

Claudia Tenney, 115^th Assembly District

Republican Claudia Tenney ran without opposition for this seat, replacing outgoing Assemblyman David Townsend, who gave up the seat to run for Oneida County Sheriff.  The 115^th A.D. includes parts of Oneida and Oswego Counties in central New York.

Tenney served as Townsend’s chief of staff and legal counsel for six years before running for the seat.  Her legislative priorities include enacting a property tax cap, term limits for legislators, reforming Albany and stopping unfunded mandates on school districts and local governments.

Kevin Smardz, 146^th Assembly District

Republican Kevin Smardz was elected to this, which was vacated by Jack Quinn, who ran unsuccessfully for State Senate.  The district includes the southern portion of Erie County.  Smardz is a member of the Hamburg Town Board, and is the media director for Southtowns Christian Center, a nondenominational church in Hamburg.

His priority issues include reducing state spending, reforming Albany and job creation.

Stay Tuned…there is always more to come!

But from Unshackle Upstate’s perspective, that doesn’t really matter. Because in the votes that were cast, we see a validation of our Judgment Day message that has us fired up for the 2010-11 legislative session. 

Judgment Day was about getting the right people into office – people who understood and respected the needs of taxpayers and job creators. Our message clearly had an impact as virtually every candidate campaigned on a platform of fixing Albany’s dysfunction and lowering taxes and spending.  That message resonated with voters, as the majority of our endorsed legislative candidates won their races. 

We’re calling it a victory for Unshackle Upstate. But potential for a much bigger, and more important victory lies ahead.

The 2010 Elections were just one leg of a distance race, and we won’t be truly victorious until we convince our legislators to change their tax-and-spend ways, to be more fiscally responsible by reducing taxes and aggressively supporting (or at least quit hindering) private sector job creation.

That’s where you – the taxpaying public, their constituents – come in. When we launched the Judgment Day campaign back in February, our main goal was to educate and empower voters across the state so that they could make the best possible decision in the voting booth. To help spread our message and our information, we drafted the Unshackle Army, now nearly 25,000 strong and growing. 

Now with the elections over, we’re asking you to stay tuned. We need that Army to stay engaged, to help us keep the pressure and ensure that our representatives follow through on their campaign pledges.

2010 was a galvanizing year for Unshackle Upstate, as we became a grassroots organization focused on putting in office state legislators who would truly be responsive to the largest special interest group – the taxpayers. We knew we faced an uphill battle. And although the election is behind us, we will not give up our charge. Unshackle Upstate will continue to be highly visible in Albany, pushing for the reduced state spending and lower taxes essential for future economic growth.

We trust you’ll be there with us. We’re looking forward to it.

Now that we are 40 days away from Judgment Day, Nov. 2, it is vitally important that every New Yorker get educated about her/his elected official and what they accomplished this past year.  Notice that I said what they accomplished?  I am trying to be more positive.  You see, I think that we did a good job of pushing back this year and as a result we saw some positive work done by both houses and both parties.  But so much more could have been accomplished if the political will existed to get it done.

Over the next six weeks you are going to be inundated with mail, radio and television ads from elected officials telling you what they think you want to hear.  But please do me a favor…dig a little bit deeper.  Find out if what they are telling you is true.  How can you do that? Well, you can start by reviewing our scorecards at www.unshackleupstate.com/scorecard-new.  If you want to look at other scorecards/voter guides, you can find more at http://www.nfib.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=db5oIxzI99E%3d&tabid=1038 or http://www.bcnys.org/voter-guide/

2010 is such a critical year for all of us that pay taxes in New York.  In the last 2 years we have seen state spending increase by 12 percent and we’ve been hit with more than $9.2 billion in new taxes and fees.  That includes increases to your driver’s license fees, car registration fees, a reinstatement of the sales tax on some clothing and shoes, and numerous other nickel-and-dime hits to your pocketbook.  And don’t even think about going out for a bottle of beer or a glass of wine… that too will cost you more.

So I ask, when is it enough?  When will we stop bearing one of the highest tax burdens in the country?  When will our elected officials start representing us…the taxpayers?  The answer is simple and at your fingertips…you must get educated and you MUST VOTE.

When you get that piece of mail or hear that radio or TV ad or when you meet the candidate directly, remember this:  Before they tell you what they’ll do… ask them what they’ve done.  Don’t think that what you are hearing is correct or accurate.  Get educated.  And if you don’t get a good enough answer, then don’t give them your vote.

When our state government grows up…they will realize that we can no longer afford the size and scope of the services provided.  Take, for instance, Medicaid.  At nearly $1 billion dollars a week (it will be more than a billion next year), our Medicaid system (http://bit.ly/dzlXDR) is too costly and needs to be brought in line with what other states are providing.   It has been said that by 2012, potentially 1 out of every 4 New Yorkers will be enrolled in federal/state supported insurance program.  We can’t afford the Mercedez-Benz anymore.  But we can afford a Ford Taurus.

When our state government grows up…they will realize that property taxes that are 79% above the national average (http://bit.ly/b5uGC5)  are too high.  And let’s not offer gimmicky solutions that only move the pieces of the puzzle around.  That’s what kids will do.  Grown-ups would roll up their sleeves, identify the core reasons for the failure and start rebuilding.  It’s what GM just went through and guess what…it was painful, nobody liked it, but GM is again a stable business with a bright future (and I believe has paid back their bail-out money).

When our state government grows up…they’ll stop adding taxes and fees to our energy and our healthcare and insurance industry.  Currently, nearly 25% of every dollar is for taxes and fees (http://bit.ly/bO7oFu).  That’s disgusting.  We (actually it is the insurance companies…but it gets to us eventually) pay more than $4 billion dollars a year in taxes, fees and assessments on health insurance or healthcare.  When health insurance is already so expensive, more taxes, fees and assessments are irresponsible and wrong.

When our state government grows up…debt, borrowing and bonding will not be words they use.  New York’s debt burden is roughly $48 billion dollars.  That means that about 17% of every dollar collected in taxes is dedicated to debt service.  That’s WAY TOO much.  And when you have that much debt, you shouldn’t even consider bonding projects so that you have more dollars available for operations.  And you should NEVER even thinking about borrowing to cover the deficits you refuse to control.

The bottom line is that it is time for our elected officials…all of them…to grow up.  The job you hold is not about you.  It’s about the people who elected you to represent them.  The recent Siena poll is a clear indication that New Yorker’s do not want more taxes, fees or borrowing.  They want the issues addressed, they want real solutions to the problems, and they want them now.

Just like the characters from The Rugrats, it’s time for our government to grow up.  It’s time to stop using our government as your personal playground.

November 2, Judgment Day (http://bit.ly/dmPv2N), is only 108 days away.  Incumbents and challengers alike have 108 days to convince voters why we should elect them to office.   It’s time for the grown-ups to step forward and start making the right decisions for New York.

However, after months of feuding and disagreements, the Legislature approved the spending plan, which just so happens to include fees, increased spending, taxes and borrowing (remember when our leaders pledged to not support these?).   How does an additional $954 million dollars in taxes out of our pocket sound?

Alas, all is not bad news with us.  Some of our representatives actually listened.  Unshackle Upstate, working in conjunction with many other organizations, has stopped a significant number of bills that will adversely impact job creators in the State of New York. They include the following:

o   IDA Labor Mandates (S.1241 THOMPSON / A.3659 Hoyt)
This legislation would impose costly and burdensome mandates to economic development projects financed by Industrial Development Agencies.

o   Natural Gas Drilling Moratorium (S.7592-A  ADDABBO / A.10490-A Englebright)
If enacted, this bill would establish a moratorium on conducting hydraulic fracturing pending the issuance of a report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA has already concluded on more than one occasion that hydraulic fracturing – a 60-year-old technology – is safe.

o   Farm Labor Mandates (S.2247-B ONORATO / A.1867-B Nolan / S.7787 ONORATO)
This legislation would impose wage and schedule mandates on farms and makes the false assumption that these mandates will have no impact. These mandates will likely result in fewer jobs for farm workers and more of our food will be grown in other states and countries.

While Unshackle Upstate has been successful, a significant number of bills that will adversely impact job creators in the State of New York have advanced in one house or the other that were not a part of UU’s plan for Upstate.   Some of our representatives hoped that we weren’t paying attention and passed the following.

o   Service Worker Prevailing Wage Mandates (S.7096-A SCHNEIDERMAN / A.10257-A Gianaris)
This bill would amend the law to extend higher wage mandates to private businesses. Ultimately the legislation will translate into higher energy cost for all consumer including businesses, the elderly, schools, daycares, local governments and hospitals.  The bill passed the Senate 32-27 and the Assembly 90-43.  The bill now goes to the Governor for approval or veto.

o   Independent Contractor Classification (S.6194  FOLEY / A.8237-B John / S.5847-C ONORATO / A.9706-B (Part SS))
These bills would have a severe impact on the New York State construction industry, by applying an unnecessary definition of an independent contractor to the state’s labor law.   Passed Assembly 110-28, passed Senate 43-4.

So, why is this important to you?  Because we all need to know the state we’re in.  Slowly but surely, promises are being broken, bills are passed that are not in the best interest of the taxpayers of Upstate New York, and deals are being made.  And clearly not good deals.  It’s time that our elected officials started making deals that benefit us.  Perhaps a deal on a property tax cap.

If you’re familiar with the game show Deal or No Deal, I’ve always enjoyed when the host, Howie Mandel, asks the contestant if they will take the dealer’s deal on the show.  For about 4 or 5 seconds you’re on the edge of your seat wondering whether or not they will take the money.  So, as I sit on the edge of my seat, I ask…what’s up Albany?  Deal or no deal?

So, what do we do now? What we’ve been doing…we wait.  No matter the outcome, Judgment Day still approaches….just 116 days away!

So, for the past 3 months, what has been going on? What are we still waiting for? What state are we in?  Let’s take a look at the good, the bad and the UGLY!

The Good

• The Governor has stated publicly to support no borrowing in the budget plan
• UU social media campaign experienced record growth to over 19,000 fans – indicative of significant voter dismay.
• UU developed and pushed $12 billion in acceptable, recurring spending cuts
• 2 dozen business groups traveled to Albany to opposition against Dirty Dozen
• Unshackle Upstate has submitted a REAL property tax cap legislation similar to Massachusetts Proposition 2.5

The Bad

• Governor – had to issue a drop dead date for the budget (not necessarily a good one) to be passed by June 28^th
• Upstate NY continues to be the home of the 10 highest taxed counties in the country as percentage of home value.
• Legislators have yet to enact the $12 billion dollar proposed budget cuts
• NY’s Medicaid budget stays greater than the entire budget of more than 43 states.
• A property tax cap has still not been put in place to offer ALL residents of NY some tax relief
• The Senate passed the prevailing wage mandate for service workers which will extend wage mandate requirements to private businesses with a focus on energy companies (more taxes for us!)

The UGLY

• The budget has YET to be passed (Are we even shocked?)
• Paterson’s budget proposal includes $2 billion added to the budget, $1.4 billion in new taxes
• Spending levels would increase about 4% over the current budget
• Legislators want to control growth instead of cutting spending… (Hello! It’s still growing!)

What does all of this mean?

It means you’ve got to speak up, you’ve got to get your voice heard…and you have 137 days left to make it happen!  Send a letter, send an e-mail, make a phone call and tell your legislator that you are not happy! http://bit.ly/8ZFjCp

The Judgment Day Scorecard (click here for sample) will be frequently updated to provide New Yorkers with information on how each of the 212 legislators vote on various pro-taxpayer and job creator legislation, as well as on this year’s state budget. So by the time November 2, 2010 rolls around…you’ll know exactly what to do!

Judgment Day is coming…let them know that we’re watching!

We were in Albany yesterday partnering with several other business groups advocating that a list of bills we dubbed “Dirty Dozen” be killed off due to their impact on our economy. Our message was well received and we got commitments from several members that they would not support the passage of the bills. That was positive.  And it got a bit better after we met with Senate Democratic Leader John Sampson (no relation) who reiterated his commitment to no new taxes and fees in this year’s budget.  And later on, when we met with Senate Minority Leader Skelos, he also said they wouldn’t support any more taxes or fees. We even had a chance to thank him and his members for recently voting down a budget extender that included a new $2 million dollar tax on manufacturing firms in New York. Yep, you got it, an actual vote against a new tax.  Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, always a champion of Unshackle Upstate and our efforts, was again rock solid with his commitment not to raise state spending or create more taxes and fees. It was great.

But, alas, it wasn’t all good news. We got wind that the budget discussions were moving along and we could be looking at a budget within the next two weeks. And while a budget would mean that we finally have some form of a functioning government, the numbers we heard we startling and appalling.

The rumor was that spending levels would increase by about 4% over the current budget. That would place it somewhere in the $136-137 billion dollar range. Frankly, that’s way too much.  And to make matters worse, instead of actually cutting spending, they are talking about bonding $2 billion dollars of the deficit.  Imagine that.  Instead of cutting spending (not controlling growth– don’t get the two confused– we need actual spending reductions) they want to borrow the money and pay it upcoming years. But even with that, there will still be more tax and fee increases in the budget…perhaps as much as $2 billion dollars. That would be on top of the $8 billion in new taxes and fees they hit us with last year.

Friends, we simply cannot allow that to happen. We need each and every New York resident that has had enough of the tax and spend culture to send a message to their elected official right now.  We don’t have an option. If we don’t raise a stink about this then the numbers I shared earlier will become a reality. We’ve made it easy for you. Just follow this link. And please don’t hesitate.  We really are running out of time to send our elected officials a clear message…we will not tolerate more spending and taxes!!

And while you’re at it, we still need that property tax cap. We have to find a way to start to control the unsustainable growth of school and property taxes. Wow, wouldn’t it be something if in the course of preparing the budget, they actually put a REAL tax cap in place to start providing us some relief? Again, it is easy to tell your elected official you want the tax cap. Just follow this link.

Now is not the time to be bashful my friends. Let’s not put ourselves in a position where a couple of weeks from now, when we are analyzing the budget, and saying “ruh roh.” Now is the time to say we’ve had ENOUGH.

And if they aren’t going to listen, then Judgment Day is coming on November 2, 2010.