Senator Gallivan Joins Colleagues in Unveiling Jobs Plan

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) joined Senate Republican Leader John J. Flanagan and members of the Senate Republican conference today in releasing a set of common-sense solutions to help fix the ailing state business climate so that more hardworking families can live, work, and thrive in New York. The reforms are designed to prevent the loss of business development projects, such as the recent Amazon HQ2 project, which cost New Yorkers 25,000 new jobs and $27.5 billion in new revenue.

The measures proposed by Senate Republicans would help reinvigorate the state economy and establish countless job opportunities for middle-class workers from Buffalo to Long Island, and begin to undo some of the damage done by stopping the Amazon HQ2 project.

“As a state we need to do more to attract businesses to New York and we should start by cutting taxes and reducing the regulatory burden that discourages companies from coming here,” Senator Gallivan said.  “We need to make it easier for businesses to set up operations, to expand and to create jobs that will make it possible for residents to stay and raise their families in New York.”

“If Senate Democrats don’t want to provide incentives to lure job-creating companies to New York, they have an obligation to work with us to change the economic climate so businesses small and large want to locate, grow, and create new jobs here. In light of the Amazon debacle, I strongly urge my Democrat colleagues in the Majority to join us in supporting these measures, because it’s the right thing to do for our economy and our working families,” said Senator Flanagan.

Under this comprehensive jobs plan, Senate Minority members will be:

• Fighting for Meaningful Tax Cuts for Small Businesses, including a $495 million income tax exemption for Small Businesses & Farmers, as well as a STAR program for Small Businesses, achieving another $275 million in savings;
• Fighting to Cut Burdensome Energy Taxes, including elimination of the 18-A Regulatory Assessment, and building upon the successful elimination of the Senate Democrats’ 18-A surcharge;
• Making the Property Tax Cap Permanent, currently a temporary measure which has saved taxpayers millions, but was brought to the floor for passage this year by Senate Democrats without a three-way agreement in place for the final budget;
• Opposing any new taxes to balance the budget, including the Governor’s plan to impose new taxes on internet purchases and prescription drugs, among other fees in the Executive Budget proposal;
• Calling upon the Governor and Legislature to enact comprehensive regulatory reform for small businesses across the state this year; and

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