5/28/10: New Business Fees Slipped into Parks Bill

Note: The New York State Legislature today passed a governor's bill to save 51 state parks and historic places from closure this summer. However, they included in the bill an 11th hour provision to add even more fees on select employers whom generate certain manufacturing refuge.

"Unshackle Upstate recognizes the value of New York's parks. They are treasures that make our state unique, and they must be supported. However, today's action by the Senate and Assembly majorities to support a bill that includes new fees to New York's businesses is more proof of their disregard for taxpayers and employers of this state.
   
Instead of focusing on cutting spending and reducing taxes, fees and assessment, they used the parks bill as another opportunity to raise fees. Hopefully this is not a preview of what we are going to see in the budget.

Those who had the courage to vote no on this bill should be commended. Those who voted yes to lump in a provision that will further hamper our ability to attract and retain business have turned their backs on employers.

Once again, when push came to shove in the budget deliberations, the legislative majorities reverted to taxing private industry to make up for their fiscal and managerial ineptitude."
 
On Nov. 2 - Judgment Day in New York - we want New Yorkers to remember which legislators fought for a competitive and friendlier business climate and which ones opted to raise taxes, fees and assessments."