FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALBANY (November 15, 2022) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), New York and the nation’s leading small business organization, released the following statement by NFIB State Director Ashley Ranslow in reaction to today’s stunning report by NY State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli disclosing $11 billion in fraudulent Unemployment Insurance (UI) payments:

“The New York State Comptroller’s blockbuster report on the $11 billion in fraudulent Unemployment Insurance payments demonstrates the appalling failures of state government. New York State has shouldered hardworking small business owners, who were forced to shut down during the pandemic, with thousands upon thousands of dollars in state UI taxes and special assessments. NFIB has long called on New York State to pay off the $7.7 billion in UI debt and stop forcing Main Street to bear the full cost of state public policy decisions. This report clearly demonstrates the malfeasance of our state government, and New York has a responsibility to right this wrong by paying off its UI debt in full, refunding small businesses the special assessments they made in September, and restoring UI tax rates to pre-pandemic levels. Enough is enough, small businesses have paid too much already, and should not be on the hook to pay for fraud that the state allowed to occur on its watch. The UI debt crisis must be addressed now.”

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For nearly 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses, and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.