O’Mara joins GOP colleagues to propose ‘Re-Open New York for Business’ plan

Albany, N.Y., February 27—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I-Big Flats) today joined his Senate Republican colleagues to urge Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state’s Democratic legislative leaders to reject new taxes, enact comprehensive regulatory reform, and take other steps in the 2019-2020 state budget to “reopen the door to new jobs across all of our communities and turn New York State’s business climate from one of the worst in the nation to one of America’s best.”

In releasing their “Re-Open New York for Business” strategy, O’Mara and the Senate GOP are targeting a set of what they call commonsense solutions to overhaul the state’s business environment.  The Senate Republican plan arrives in the aftermath of Amazon’s recent announcement that it was pulling its HQ2 project out of New York, a move being widely blamed on opposition to Amazon’s plans from leading state Senate Democrats.

The Amazon HQ2 project was expected to create 25,000 to 40,000 new jobs, and generate nearly $30 billion in new revenue.

“It’s already becoming crystal clear that the new New York State Legislature under Democratic control runs the risk of mandating, taxing, and regulating New York State right out of business.  We’ve got a serious fight on our hands to try to keep this state’s leaders focused on job number one, which is the need to cut taxes, eliminate overregulation, and create jobs,” said O’Mara.  “That means we need to take significant steps to reopen the door to welcome new jobs across all of our communities and turn New York State’s business climate from one of the worst in the nation to one of America’s best.”

Among a set of priorities Senate Republicans put forth today are:

> tax cuts for small businesses, including an income tax exemption for small businesses and farms, and a new STAR property tax relief program for small businesses;

> cutting burdensome energy taxes, including eliminating the 18-A regulatory assessment that hits energy consumers like farmers, manufacturers, and senior citizens especially hard;

> making the two-percent local property tax cap permanent;

> opposing any new taxes to balance the 2019-20 state budget, including proposals by Cuomo to impose taxes on internet purchases and prescription drugs, among other new fees; and

> enacting comprehensive regulatory reform for small businesses across the state.