Manufacturing remains a critical part of our state’s and more importantly our region’s economy. More than 600,000 New Yorkers work in manufacturing while up to one million more work in related industries in jobs that could be lost if our manufacturing sector teeters. With that being the case, my Assembly minority colleagues and I have unveiled an innovative ‘Re-Made in New York’ initiative aimed at growing new manufacturing jobs, while also conserving raw materials, protecting the environment and saving money for consumers.
Besides paying better-than-average wages, manufacturers form the backbone of many local communities, however, New York’s manufacturers face their toughest challenges ever from competition, overseas and from other states. Our plan protects existing manufacturing jobs, encourages the creation of new ones, and helps restore New York’s position as an important center of American manufacturing.
The proposal is part of a sweeping plan – originally contained in our ‘Roadmap to Renewal’ 2004 legislative agenda – that aims to reinvigorate the state’s struggling manufacturing sector. The plan calls for tax relief, initiatives aimed at ensuring adequate supplies of affordable and earth-friendlier energy supplies, and creation of a new legislative Task Force to identify additional solutions to challenges facing the state’s manufacturing sector.
The ‘Re-Made in New York’ program encourages the use and purchase of New York state remanufactured parts and products by state agencies and the Legislature. Re-manufacturers thoroughly clean, repair, retrofit and resell previously used consumer products – from auto transmissions and machinery to office equipment – usually at a discounted price, to consumers and industry.
To further boost New York’s manufacturing sector and create jobs, we urge revamping of the state’s tax code to mirror provisions already in place in more manufacturer-friendly states. The plan calls for implementation of a ‘Single Sales Factor’ for New York manufacturers. Currently, manufacturing companies are discouraged from locating or expanding their business in New York by a tax code that weighs three factors – sales, payroll and real property owned within the state. This proposal would base manufacturers’ tax liability on sales alone.
After last summer’s blackout, there are few more important issues than ensuring a reliable energy supply for our future. Our plan seeks to protect New York’s energy supply by renewing an expired state law that regulates new power plants – and extend the Power for Jobs program that provides low-cost energy for job creation.
Other pro-manufacturing initiatives in the ‘Roadmap to Renewal’ plan include:
- NY’s TIME (Technology for the Manufacturing Economy) – The Assembly minority conference supports additional study of ways to encourage high-tech manufacturing in the state, including a better understanding of the educational and training needs of future high-tech employees;
- Promote free energy markets – We support creation of energy cooperatives organized by regional Chambers of Commerce to purchase bulk supplies of lower-priced energy for their members. One such cooperative, in Saratoga County, is saving members thousands of dollars each year in energy costs;
- Seek energy efficiency – We support continuing the mission of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the New York Power Authority to promote energy conservation and renewable energy initiatives as ways to help meet the growing energy demands of a growing state economy;
- Cellular service improvements – State-of-the-art wireless communications infrastructure is critical to the future of New York, yet wireless service remains unreliable throughout large swaths of the state. We urge the state Public Service Commission to review problems with wireless phone service connections and support the creation of tax incentives to upgrade connections in underserved areas.