Senate continues tax reform hearings in Syracuse today, O'Mara says goal is bipartisan legislative tax-cutting agenda

Elmira, N.Y., September 5—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats), a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Committee on Investigations and Governmental Operations, today joined his committee colleagues in Syracuse to hear from regional business and economic development leaders on how New York’s tax policies can be reformed to reduce the state’s overall tax burden and encourage private-sector job growth.

The Senate hearings are aimed at developing a comprehensive tax reform agenda that O’Mara and his colleagues will make a priority during the 2014 legislative session. 

“We’re after the best, most effective ideas for job-creating tax policies and reforms,” said O’Mara, who continues to sponsor tax-cutting legislation (S.3562) aimed at upstate manufacturers.  “We know that state taxes are too high, and they stifle any hope for sustained economic growth.  Our tax code and policies have to better reflect the realities of the modern economy and encourage any and all businesses and industries to come to and stay in New York.  We’ll put forth a comprehensive tax reform agenda for 2014 that we believe can and should gain bipartisan support and action in the Legislature.”  

Today’s hearing in Syracuse the second in a series of five public hearings statewide that the Senate committees have scheduled.  

They kicked off yesterday in Albany where testimony was heard from statewide business organizations including the Business Council of New York State; National Federation of Independent Business; Unshackle Upstate; the New York State Economic Development Council; the Manhattan Institute; the Tax Foundation; New York Farm Bureau; the Manufacturers Association of Central New York; Associated Builders and Contractors; and the Center State Corporation for Economic Opportunity. Senate hearings will also be held in Buffalo, Long Island and New York City.

Next week the Senate will also begin a series of statewide public hearings on regulatory reform including, at O’Mara’s request, a hearing in Corning in early October focused on regulatory reform measures for large and small upstate manufacturers.