As a small-business owner, I know how rewarding and, at times, challenging it can be to do business in New York State. As your State Assemblyman, I have been working to help stimulate our Western New York economy and help retain and attract businesses to our community.
I have used my experience and my passion for restoring Western New York's economy to accomplish many positive changes for our community, including:
As a member of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee, I helped to broker a new New York Racing Association contract that helped Batavia Downs;
I worked with Washington Mutual to save over 800 jobs at their national call center in Albion;
Through my membership on the Assembly Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Committee, I supported these industries by defending and restoring the snowmobile fund and promoting Western New York as a cultural and vacation destination, and fighting against the "fun taxes" in the 2009-10 Executive Budget;
As a member on the Assembly Insurance Committee, I have led the charge for comprehensive tort reform, including medical malpractice, the Scaffold Law, and reforming Wicks Law;
Through my membership in the Assembly Agriculture Committee, I have sponsored dairy assistance funding, helped farmers recover from ice storm damage, and organized state representatives toward reforming the federal H2A hiring process;
Partnering together with our Empire Zones and Industrial Development Agencies, I have taken a stand against burdensome policies that would destroy both programs' proven effectiveness in creating jobs;
Bringing the Assembly Minority Task Force on Manufacturing to our community, I have been a consistent voice for manufacturers in Albany and fought to enact legislation that would help manufacturers reclaim their vital role in our economy;
I have embarked on a series of local business tours to meet directly with business owners and employees to learn how Albany can make our state more business friendly and I have used this knowledge to create legislation that reduces the cumbersome taxes and fees that are driving businesses out of state and preventing businesses from locating here;
Knowing the importance of reliable, clean and affordable energy, I have worked to give businesses the power to create jobs by calling for a new Article X citing law and rallying industries, such as agriculture and trucking, in Albany to cut motor fuel taxes; and
Helping to keep businesses' transportation costs and employees commuting costs low by fighting Thruway fare hikes.