7/9/10: Unshackle Upstate Publishes Legislative Memos

Unshackle Upstate today made public copies of the legislative memos it has filed with the New York State Legislature; detailing the pro-taxpayer coalition's stance on a variety of bills posed during the current session. 

 "We want the public to know exactly where we stand on the key issues being debated by our elected officials  because this information will be critical in helping them make informed decisions when they enter the voting booth on Judgment Day, November 2," said Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate. "Voters simply need to know which bills will help New York and which will likely do serious harm by raising taxes, hampering economic growth and stalling much needed job creation. That's the battle we are waging." 

  Unshackle Upstate issued more than 40 memos addressing various bills and budget proposals, all of which are now available on its website, www.unshackleupstate.com.   

Among its memos of support:

            o  For legislation that would enact a real property tax cap of 2.5 percent. (view our statement of support HERE), a change essential to curbing New York's out-of-control spending and bringing essential relief to taxpayers now paying at a rate 79 percent higher than the rest of the nation. Unshackle supports a straight cap, not tied to a state spending cap or a circuit breaker.

            o  For a bill amending the retirement & social security law to establish a defined contribution plan (A. 6932). This legislation would freeze the current retirement tier of all state elected officials and non-civil service appointed employees, and creates a new defined contribution plan for those employees.  Unshackle Upstate believe this change is needed because the current retirement system is unsustainably expensive, contributing significantly to New York's high tax burdens.

 Among memos issued in opposition:

             o  Amendment to the workers' compensation law and the insurance law to provide benefits for injury or sickness, pregnancy or family leave (S. 5791/A. 8742). Unshackle Upstate opposes this "one-size-fits-all" mandate, preferring to allow employers the flexibility to create policies that best fit the needs of their own employees and businesses.

             o  Amendment to labor law to establish Prevailing Wages for Service Workers (S.8379-A/A10257-D) Unshackle Upstate opposes this legislation because it would amend the definition of a public agency to include electric and gas utilities. Ultimately, the legislation will translate into higher energy cost for all consumers including businesses, the elderly, schools, daycares, local governments and hospitals.

To learn more, log on to http://bit.ly/UUmemos and click on any of the memos.