Contact: Mike Fraser, office: (518) 455-3751/cell: (518) 859-8518
Small Business Day at the Capitol will take place on May 17, a day to celebrate the contributions of small businesses, explore new avenues for growth, and advocate for policies to help them succeed. For the state's business owners and organizations, there is much to discuss.
Year after year, New York is ranked near the bottom of national tax and business climate rankings. The Tax Foundation recently ranked New York 49th in its 2017 State Business Tax Climate Index. Yet despite continuous alarms going off, the broad overhaul of economic policies we so desperately need never materializes.
Small businesses are vital economic drivers that strengthen our economy and our communities. In New York, they face a challenging landscape due to the state's egregiously unfriendly tax-fine-and-harass polices and suffocating regulations. Small Business Day is a great opportunity to highlight some of the ways we can ease the many burdens facing New York's small businesses.
ASSEMBLY MINORITY PROPOSALS WILL HELP SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE
Albany must do more to ensure job creators realize their potential and provide much-needed jobs and goods for our residents. Despite unfounded claims that the state's business environment is turning around, operating in New York remains a steep uphill climb.
The Assembly Minority Conference has continued to push for reforms that would broadly address New York's toxic business climate. It will take much more than the gimmicks we've become all too familiar with, which nibble around the edge of the problem rather than strike at is heart, to get New York's businesses headed in the right direction. Among others, we have called for bills to:
Small Business Full Employment Act - In addition to numerous tax reductions, the bill also calls for the creation of the Division of Regulatory Review & Economic Growth (D-RREG). Further, it would prohibit any new unfunded state mandates on local governments, school districts and small businesses while also requiring fiscal notes on bills (A.5423, Kolb).
"Grow NY" - Create an economic gardening pilot program that provides grants to economic development entities that give assistance to second-stage companies that employ five to 99 persons (A.6105, Kolb).
Eliminate Taxes on Manufacturers - Eliminate the Corporate Franchise Tax and Personal Income Tax on manufacturers (A.6758, Kolb).
Scaffold Law Exemption - Exempt owners of farms and owners of multiple dwellings from complying with the Scaffold Law in certain circumstances (A.1602, Hawley).
Learning for Work Program - Establish a three-part program designed to create career-ready individuals upon high school graduation. It includes a youth apprenticeship program, Enhanced Regents Professional Degree and youth apprenticeship tax credit (A.4333, Lupinacci).
Earned Income Tax Credit Expansion - Expand the New York State value of the EITC from 30 percent to 45 percent of the federal amount (A.5714, Kolb).
New York's businesses need a lot of attention if they are going to grow and thrive. It is imperative we address this issue before even more New Yorkers flee for greener pastures.
What do you think? I want to hear from you. Send me your feedback, suggestions and ideas regarding this or any other issue facing New York State. You can always contact my district office at (315) 781-2030 or email me at kolbb@nyassembly.gov.