Murphy announces Small Business Regulatory Watch

YORKTOWN, NY - Last month the Tax Foundation once again ranked New York near the bottom of its State Business Tax Climate Index, at 49th overall. The Chairman of the State Administrative Rules and Regulations Commission (ARRC), Senator Terrence P. Murphy, says this ranking is due in large part to administrative rules and regulations which are being handed down from the state and federal government.

Today, Murphy, who is a small businesses owner himself, said he is launching a small business regulatory watch to make his fellow business owners aware of those rules which could adversely impact small businesses. As ARRC chair, he is charged with reviewing many of these rules and regulations.

"With more than 140,000 pages of rules and regulations in this state it is no wonder why we continue to export jobs and people," Murphy said. "Unelected rule makers create layers of bureaucracy which prohibit growth and ultimately prevent jobs from being created. My goal is to improve the communication and transparency of government with my fellow business owners. New York needs to reinvest in Main Street."

The ARRC Small Business Regulatory Watch will be released as an e-blast newsletter highlighting certain rules and regulations that could increase burdens on businesses. It will also be posted online. Murphy said his goal is educate small business owners about the State and federal regulatory processes focusing on:

• The New York State Register, a weekly publication of New York State's rule making activities, proposed rules, securities offerings, notice of availability of state and federal funds, miscellaneous notices and hearings; 
• New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, published agency rules and regulations adopted under the State Administrative Procedure Act after being published in the New York State Register; 
• Federal Register, the daily journal of the federal government of the United States containing federal agency rules, proposed rules and public notices; and 
• Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, which contains federal agency rules and regulations adopted under the Administrative Procedure Act after being published in the Federal Register.

John Ravitz, executive vice president and COO of the Business Council of Westchester, said "Rulemaking is rarely advertised by Albany politicians, mainly because most of the rules are often-times job killers. Having a strong line of communication between a member of the legislature and the business community is crucial. For Senator Murphy to launch this program within his first three months of taking office proves his desire of making economic development a priority here in Westchester."

Jennifer Maher, chairwoman of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, said "Departments, divisions, offices, authorities and commissions are constantly making and remaking rules which have a huge impact on businesses, and few business owners realize they have the opportunity to comment on and potentially impact these proposals. Senator Murphy's new publication will help shine light on what up until now has been a largely behind-closed doors process."

"Every week my office reviews more than a dozen new rules and regulations which target the daily operations of small businesses," Senator Murphy said. "It is time government offers a hand to Main Street and help folks who are trying to run or start a business."