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Tedisco Says Governor Spitzer Deserves Credit for Recognizing Severity of Upstate's Economic Decline, Calls For "Dramatic Policy Overhaul" To Renew Upstate |
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Says State government should take this opportunity to implement bold, new policies like repealing the Corporate Franchise Tax and enacting a property tax cap | ||||||
In light of a continued downward economic spiral that has engulfed Upstate, Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco (R,C,I,-Schenectady-Saratoga) today credited Governor Spitzer's "State of Upstate Address" for recognizing the severity of the decline and outlining various policy and programmatic steps to reverse it. Tedisco also called for a "dramatic policy overhaul" that would give an immediate and appreciable boost to the Upstate economy. "At times, I've been one of this Governor's toughest critics - but not today. I believe Governor Spitzer deserves credit for recognizing the economic crisis that is gripping Upstate. His decision to give a 'State of Upstate Address' put his bully pulpit to good use in helping draw attention to Upstate's hurting economy," Tedisco said. "It's not hyperbole to say that the Upstate economy is on life support - some small businesses are literally just hanging on, their pain compounded by the fact that we are either close to, or possibly already in, the grips of a national economic recession," Tedisco said. Tedisco outlined some leading indicators of the Upstate economy's continued, dramatic decline, drawing upon reports from the bi-partisan American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and the Business Council of New York State, Inc., which found Upstate New York's past economic performance and future economic outlook among the bleakest in the nation.
"Governor Spitzer outlined several steps - including using our tremendous SUNY research facilities as 'incubators' for businesses to tap our state's best and brightest minds, improving Upstate's roads and other critical infrastructure and utilizing the State Police to help Upstate cities control violent crime - that we should seriously consider," Tedisco stated. "One area where I diverge from the Governor's address is seemingly too much of a reliance on taxpayer dollars to fund many of the initiatives he outlined. I am concerned - and I'm not alone - in wondering how our state could afford some of his proposals in light of the nearly $51 billion in debt that New York is carrying - and that is a conservative estimate," Tedisco said. "I think it's fair to say that parts of Upstate have been hit by a 'perfect storm' of high taxes, energy costs and job loss. In response to this perfect storm that has swamped Upstate, we should take dramatic, bold steps as timidity is not a cure for the chronic ailments afflicting Upstate," Tedisco said, outlining several initiatives advanced by the Assembly Minority Conference that the state Legislature could enact to have an immediate, positive impact on Upstate's economy, including:
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