New York State Voting Record tracks small business votes during the session
ALBANY (Sept. 3, 2020) – NFIB, the nation’s and New York’s leading small business advocacy organization, released its 2019-20 legislative Voting Record today, tracking votes from every lawmaker on key areas of concern and importance for small business owners in the state. The Voting Record is a tool that allows small businesses and their supporters to better understand which Albany lawmakers truly stand with New York’s small businesses and local economic opportunity. NFIB’s New York State Voting Record is also a significant factor in NFIB’s decision to endorse incumbent legislators.
“Nevermore than at this moment have small business owners in New York needed to know which state representatives are looking out for their future, their employees’ futures, and the economic future of communities across the Empire State,” said Greg Biryla, NFIB’s New York State Director. “Sales are down, consumer demand is tenuous, and 40 percent of small businesses believe they will go under in seven to twelve months if conditions don’t improve. Washington D.C. has an important role to play, but so does Albany. We are asking every legislator to look at their voting record on key issues, speak with small businesses in their districts, and be their champion when the legislative session resumes this year or next.”
NFIB’s 2019-20 New York State Voting Record scored nine bills acted upon both in the Senate and Assembly, and two additional pieces of legislation that only advanced in the Senate. Six of the bills have been signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, one received his veto, and four are either awaiting delivery to the Governor or additional legislative action.
“Legislators in both chambers from both parties demonstrated that while often elusive, bipartisan consensus on commonsense measures can be forged,” added Biryla. “Democratic Majorities in both houses approved a permanent property tax cap, which has been a longstanding Republican priority in New York State, and several small business regulatory reforms received unanimous or near-unanimous support from lawmakers. Unfortunately, the legislature also passed and enacted new laws that set our small-business climate back by increasing the cost of construction and energy and implementing factory-style employer mandates on New York’s already struggling agriculture industry. The full implementation of these new laws will occur over the coming years, just as we hope to build and sustain a post-COVID recovery in New York,”
To view and download NFIB’s 2019-20 New York Voting Record CLICK HERE
Upon their return, NFIB is asking lawmakers to prioritize the following policies to assist New York’s recovery:
- Enact structural tax reductions for all small businesses, including pass-through entities that pay their business taxes via their personal income taxes.
- Target relief to the true small businesses negatively impacted the most by COVID-19 and New York’s phased regional economic shutdowns.
- Provide flexible grant and loan programs to assist with the costs of personal protective equipment, rent and mortgages, utilities, transportation, and maintenance costs.
- Prevent Unemployment Insurance tax increases.
- Protect small businesses from predatory lawsuits with common-sense good faith liability protections.
- Provide businesses still shut down or operating under severely limiting restrictions guidance and timelines for their futures.
For more information about NFIB, please visit NFIB.com.
