Chamber In the Media

The Chamber Corner is a weekly column designed to keep the business community informed about relevant issues and information from the Chamber of Commerce and is available through the following links:

For Chamber updates on public policy issues, please read our blog postings below.

New York's Business Potential

Jan 9

Written by: Todd Tranum
1/9/2012 8:38 AM  RssIcon

 

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s second State of the State Address this past week demonstrates his willingness to create business-friendly change in New York. The Governor renewed his commitment to mandate relief and reducing the tax burden, while also calling for investments in infrastructure and economic development. 
Especially gratifying is the Governor’s announcement that mandate relief will be a top priority. With spiraling costs in pension plans for state workers, schools, and local governments, Governor Cuomo called for a reform of the system and creation of a Tier VI retirement plan. He will ask the joint Legislative and Executive Mandate Relief Council to hold hearings and issue recommendations, and bring measures to the Legislature for a vote this session. Mandate relief is critical to the reduction in tax rates at all levels of government.
Reform of the state’s education system is also a high priority for the Governor. His message calls for a bipartisan education commission to recommend reforms including teacher accountability, student achievement, and management efficiency. Our Chamber’s Public Policy Committee has long been calling for reforms in education that will create school administrative efficiencies and provide a high quality education for students.
New York will offer a second competitive round of regional economic development awards in 2012 totaling $200-million. Western New York claimed the top dollar prize in the 2011 funding round, after creating a regional strategic plan that demonstrates how government, agencies, and private business can work together to strengthen the job base. In addition, the Governor announced that the New York Open for Business campaign will step up its efforts to market the state and highlight regional treasures promoting tourism as well as business investment.
The Governor called for the creation of a New York Works Fund and Task Force to coordinate and leverage capital investment and put thousands of people to work. The proposal calls for $20 in private sector funds to be leveraged against every $1 in public funding spent. Projects to be supported will include road and bridge repairs and reconstruction, upgrades to municipal water systems, flood control projects, and improvements to state parks and historic sites.
Additional proposals in the State of the State address include strengthening our important agriculture industry through a series of measures that will support farmers. These include low interest loans for infrastructure upgrades and expansion of the FreshConnect farmers’ market program to provide New Yorkers with healthy, locally-grown food. 
Overall, the Governor’s proposals are good for business. We applaud his determination to make New York stronger economically and his commitment to restructuring state government. We look forward to working with Governor Cuomo and the state legislature this year to make New York State more business-friendly.

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