During Governor Cuomo’s State of the State speech in January, the governor declared New York state “Open for Business.” However, jobs continue to be scarce in our state. Locally, unemployment remains high, especially in St. Lawrence and Lewis counties (10.4 % and 9.8 % in April, respectively), long-term unemployment continues to climb across New York, and nationally, young people continue to leave the state for better jobs elsewhere.

The statistics are astounding. According to a recent CNN poll, nearly 50% of Americans believe that America could slip into a depression in the next 12 months. A recent survey in Chief Executive has New York state with the second-worst business climate in the country. (Only California ranks lower). A recent article in the New York Post says that, for more than 15 years, New York state has led the country in domestic out migration. For every American who moves to New York, about two people depart for other states. A Marist poll suggests that rate may continue to increase – 36% of New Yorkers under 30 plan to leave over the next five years. This poll also found that 62 percent of New Yorkers planning to leave cited economic factors, including cost of living, taxes and the job environment.

It is clear: New York state has an employment problem. And the reasons New York has this problem are obvious: property taxes are too high, mandates on local governments are too numerous, and businesses are overtaxed and overregulated.

The proposed property tax cap would provide significant relief for businesses. However, a tax cap is just the first step toward making New York a more affordable place to live and do business. I will continue to work with Governor Cuomo and insist on unfunded mandate relief to alleviate the costly rules, regulations and paperwork that continue to burden local governments and school districts. Both a tax cap and mandate relief is essential in order to fix our economy and restore New York to its prominence as the “Empire State.”

I also am adamantly opposed to the “Success Tax” that the Assembly Majority continues to push. This tax would require successful New Yorkers to pay significantly higher income taxes – the same successful New Yorkers who create jobs. With almost 800,000 New Yorkers out of work, why would it make sense to increase taxes on the very same people we expect to create jobs? It doesn’t.

Finally, Albany needs to reduce burdensome regulations that hinder businesses from growing and hiring. I continue to push for a bill, A.5286, which would reduce farm-based taxes, fees and regulatory burdens on agriculture operations. This bill is a positive step in making New York friendlier to business, especially agri-business.

There is a lot to be done before New York is “open for business” again, but I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Legislature to pass business-friendly legislation that promotes economic development.