Griffo to Governor: Let's Cut Red Tape Together

UTICA –  Joseph A. Griffo today applauded his Senate colleagues for identifying more than 2,200 regulations that, if eliminated, could produce 20,000 new private sector jobs.

“Businesses in New York spend an estimated $274 billion annually to comply with our state’s 750,000 regulations. Frankly, this sort of comprehensive review was long overdue,” said Sen. Griffo, R-Rome.

Sen. Griffo sponsored a bill (S5519A) that would create a task force to review rules, regulations and public authorities every 10 years. This group, comprised of members picked by both the executive and Legislature, would be able to repeal any unnecessary rule or regulation, subject to legislative oversight.

The bill passed the Senate 60-2 last year, but died in the Assembly. Assemblyman James F. Brennan, D-Brooklyn, was the sponsor of the bill in the Assembly.

In Governor Cuomo’s State of the State supplement, the executive lamented “years of discussion in state government with no action” on regulatory reform. He then suggested “executive and legislative branches should together take action to address this impediment to economic growth.”

“My bill would make the governor’s goal a reality,” said Griffo. “The Senate overwhelmingly supported it and stands ready to do so again. The task force can build on the great work done by the bipartisan Senate commission so that we can start seeing results immediately.”

“Governor Cuomo is right,” the senator concluded. “Employers cannot afford to wait any longer for their state representatives. I urge my colleagues in the Assembly to make this bill a priority so we can help spur job creation in New York.”