11/12/2008
CONTACT: Mike Elmendorf, 518-434-1262 or Jason Brewer, 202-406-4435
ALBANY, N.Y. -- All or part of the following may be attributed to Mike Elmendorf, state director of National Federation of Independent Business/New York, in response to Gov. David Paterson's deficit reduction plan.
"New York's staggering deficit requires bold action, and we support Governor Paterson's determination to make the tough choices and confront New York's dire fiscal crisis.
"The governor has rightly resisted calls by some to address this crisis by raising taxes -- that would be the wrong move at the wrong time. With our economy already hobbled, a tax increase would only wreak further havoc by squeezing working families and small businesses that are already struggling. Let's be clear: New York didn't get into this crisis because it didn't tax enough. It got into it because it has consistently spent far more than it could afford.
"New York is in a deep fiscal hole, and our economy needs to grow out of it. In addition to holding the line on taxes, we should resist new fees and mandates that will make it more difficult for small business owners to survive in this environment. New healthcare taxes such as an increase in the Covered Lives Assessment, and new environmental fees like the bottle bill ought to be off the legislative agenda.
"Climbing out of this hole will be far less likely if the state further burdens small business -- the engine that drives our economy and accounts for most new job creation -- at this extremely difficult time. We encourage Gov. Paterson to continue down the course he has led thus far to control spending in Albany and give beleaguered families and small businesses the chance to ride out this crisis."
