Ortt Pushes for Business-Friendly Bill to Cut “Red Tape”

NORTH TONAWANDA – Senator Rob Ortt (R,C,I – North Tonawanda) joined local business advocates and employees of Audubon Machinery at the North Tonawanda factory today to push for his proposed Red Tape Reduction Act, which would cut red tape and allow businesses to thrive.

As part of Ortt’s “Shake up the Status Quo” plan, the Red Tape Reduction Act will be one of his top legislative priorities moving forward. The legislation currently sits in the Rules Committee.

“For several years, the business climate throughout the state has not been able to effectively progress due to excessive and outdated governmental regulations that no longer fall in line with the ever-changing economic challenges across the globe,” Senator Ortt said. “This bill would cut through the bureaucratic red tape that’s focused on compliance rather than real solutions and has hindered the growth of economic development. Purging old regulations would pave the way for a stronger, friendlier business climate that would bring in more business and create jobs.”      

 The Red Tape Reduction Act would control the amount of governmental burdens placed on businesses that ultimately affect the cost of doing business. The legislation would help to improve New York State’s economic environment by eliminating or amending existing, duplicative state regulations when a new one is adopted. In the end, this would offset the projected cost of a newly adopted regulation on a business.   

Audubon Machinery Corporation Owner Joe McMahon said, “We live and work in a 21st century economy, but we unfortunately deal with regulations and mandates that are inarguably outdated and clearly unnecessary. They add costs to businesses. They add costs to consumers. And they ultimately make operating and succeeding in the New York economy that much more challenging.”

North Tonawanda Mayor Art Pappas said, “I can say with great confidence, what Senator Ortt is proposing is a much needed boost to owners of a small business throughout the state, North Tonawanda being no exception. The goal of any business is to grow. This legislation would be a great step in the right direction in making it easier for these business owners to do just that. It’s good for them and it’s good for the overall health of municipalities as well. I applaud the Senator for his diligent work in the matter, and I’m hopeful this legislation will move forward.”

Unshackle Upstate Executive Director Greg Biryla said, “New York’s regulatory environment has proven to be toxic to the manufacturers, small businesses and family farms that drive the Upstate economy. The unnecessary red tape created in Albany hurts investment, job growth and competitiveness. Senator Ortt should be commended for his efforts to address the problem and Unshackle Upstate encourages other legislators to get serious about improving the state’s business climate.” 

Niagara USA Chamber President & CEO Deanna Alterio Brennen said, “We applaud the Senator for recognizing that government cannot continue to burden businesses with outdated and duplicative regulations that stifle growth. The Chamber encourages this movement to actively change the process, so that small businesses can invest in and create new jobs.”

President & CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership Dottie Gallagher-Cohen said, “Employers across Buffalo Niagara consistently rank New York’s high taxes and crushing regulations as the number one obstacle to job growth and business expansion. The Red Tape Reduction Act is not a silver bullet, but it will force Albany to think twice before adding yet another job-killing regulation to the books.  I want to thank Senator Ortt for understanding the burdens New York employers face and for working with us to improve the Upstate economy.”

The Red Tape Reduction Act is modeled after the Red Tape Reduction Act law enacted in Canada.