NFIB calls on lawmakers to adopt business-friendly policies and common sense regulatory reform
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Mike Durant 518-434-1262
ALBANY (January 12, 2017) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB/NY), the state’s largest small business organization, today announced its legislative priorities for the upcoming 2017 legislative session. NFIB/NY’s agenda focuses on measures that will lower the cost of doing business in the state and reduce regulatory burdens that stifle job creation and economic growth.
“After a difficult 2016, small business owners were hopeful that Governor Cuomo’s State of the State tour would bring news of a renewed effort to bolster Main Street,” said Mike Durant, NFIB/NY State Director. “Despite the rightful focus on fiscal restraint and infrastructure modernization, there has been little advanced that would restore overall confidence of New York’s small employers.”
NFIB/NY’s agenda addresses concerns of small business owners including various taxes and surcharges, onerous labor mandates, high energy costs, and a judicial system that needs reform.
“We are hopeful that many in the legislature will work for small employers this year and aim to strike the necessary balance between small, regional economic development efforts and broad business reforms,” said Durant. “Our agenda will make New York more affordable and hospitable for small business while creating a more organic environment for economic activity.
NFIB/NY’s advocacy efforts aim to strengthen and protect small business, and the organization of nearly 11,000 small and independent business owners across the state encourages lawmakers to:
Implement Workers’ Compensation Reforms- The cost of the Workers Compensation system in New York State is the third highest in the nation. NFIB/NY supports reforming the schedule loss of use guidelines, providing meaningful timelines for maximum medical improvement, imposing durational caps for permanent partial disability, adopting nationally recognized standards for medical treatment, and employing regional indexes to calculate average weekly wages, to help lower costs while continuing to provide an appropriate level of care to truly injured workers. These reforms could reduce Workers’ Compensation costs by approximately 10 percent or $1 billion for employers.
Reduce Personal Income Taxes- The Tax Foundation’s State Business Climate Index consistently ranks New York among the worst states in the nation. Tax reform will bring necessary relief and clarity to Main Street. NFIB supports increasing the personal income tax exemption for small business and reducing the corporate tax rate for qualifying small businesses.
Lower the Cost of Health Insurance by Eliminating the HCRA Surcharge- NFIB members continue to lament the high cost of health insurance as a critical problem. Surcharges and assessments drive up those costs, which makes health insurance largely unaffordable for employers. Allowing the HCRA surcharge to expire this year could save New Yorkers approximately 9.3% on healthcare costs or $2.9 billion in taxes.
Support Sensible Tort Reform, including Reforming the Scaffold Law- Reducing business costs associated with litigation, and more specifically reforming the archaic Scaffold Law, will save an estimated $785 million for taxpayers annually. Reform of the Scaffold Law, which holds a strict liability standard for gravity related incidents, will balance workers’ safety with fair treatment of businesses.
Reform the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) Process- The SEQR process often is cited as a major barrier to economic development in the state. NFIB/NY supports adopting definitive deadlines for review and decisions, eliminating duplicative standards, and introducing greater transparency to make the process efficient and fair.
View NFIB/NY’s Legislative Agenda
For more information about NFIB, please visit www.nfib.com/newyork.
Mike Durant is available for further comment and can be reached at (518) 434-1262.
