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“Small businesses are the backbone of the nation’s economy.”
We frequently hear this statement from politicians who want us to believe that small businesses are important and they are fighting for us. It sounds good for a television sound bite, but do they really understand the obstacles that we face or the everyday roadblocks that we run into while trying to survive? I pose this question as both a state assemblyman and a small business owner of over 25 years.
We keep hearing that “New York is Open for Business,” but I ask are we really? According to Chief Executive Magazine, New York was ranked the 50th “Worst State for Business” in 2010. We were only passed by California which ranked 51st (the ratings including Washington, D.C.), while Texas received the highest honor as the “Best State for Business.” These ratings were based on levels of taxation, regulation, quality of the workforce and living environment.
I constantly hear from small business owners that New York is unfriendly to business, and at times it’s downright hostile. I share the ever-growing level of frustration and have to ask when is enough, enough?
Recently, I sent letters to our federal legislators asking them to rescind the Unemployment Insurance Interest Assessment Surcharge that was imposed on all businesses by the New York State Department of Labor. I am pleased that Sen. Charles Schumer has taken some action to address the issue by introducing federal legislation. But it shouldn’t take a literal act of Congress to help New York’s already beleaguered business community? This most recent example is but one of many that New York’s businesses face on a daily basis.
The Assembly Republican Conference has been leading the charge to help New York’s business community and has identified several roadblocks to economic development by state agencies including: regulatory burdens; unfunded mandates; taxes, assessments, fees and fines; delays in paperwork processing; slow response time; calculation errors; and inconsistent or contradicting directions.
While we as a Conference have identified these areas of concern based on personal experiences and direct contact with business leaders, we want to hear from you. We would like to hear your personal story of a negative experience with state government to highlight real issues that have affected real businesses and to better develop legislation that will positively impact New York’s business community.
If you have a story to tell about state agencies and their anti-business actions, I want to hear from you. I would also like to hear of your success stories and how you are managing to retain or create jobs in this tough economy and in spite of New York’s many roadblocks. Please forward your written story to my district office at 2371 N. Main St., Warsaw, NY 14569 or by fax at 585-786-0182. Thank you in advance for your interest in participating and sharing your important voice with lawmakers in Albany.
Assemblyman Dan Burling, NY-147
“Small businesses are the backbone of the nation’s economy.”
We frequently hear this statement from politicians who want us to believe that small businesses are important and they are fighting for us. It sounds good for a television sound bite, but do they really understand the obstacles that we face or the everyday roadblocks that we run into while trying to survive? I pose this question as both a state assemblyman and a small business owner of over 25 years.
We keep hearing that “New York is Open for Business,” but I ask are we really? According to Chief Executive Magazine, New York was ranked the 50th “Worst State for Business” in 2010. We were only passed by California which ranked 51st (the ratings including Washington, D.C.), while Texas received the highest honor as the “Best State for Business.” These ratings were based on levels of taxation, regulation, quality of the workforce and living environment.
I constantly hear from small business owners that New York is unfriendly to business, and at times it’s downright hostile. I share the ever-growing level of frustration and have to ask when is enough, enough?
Recently, I sent letters to our federal legislators asking them to rescind the Unemployment Insurance Interest Assessment Surcharge that was imposed on all businesses by the New York State Department of Labor. I am pleased that Sen. Charles Schumer has taken some action to address the issue by introducing federal legislation. But it shouldn’t take a literal act of Congress to help New York’s already beleaguered business community? This most recent example is but one of many that New York’s businesses face on a daily basis.
The Assembly Republican Conference has been leading the charge to help New York’s business community and has identified several roadblocks to economic development by state agencies including: regulatory burdens; unfunded mandates; taxes, assessments, fees and fines; delays in paperwork processing; slow response time; calculation errors; and inconsistent or contradicting directions.
While we as a Conference have identified these areas of concern based on personal experiences and direct contact with business leaders, we want to hear from you. We would like to hear your personal story of a negative experience with state government to highlight real issues that have affected real businesses and to better develop legislation that will positively impact New York’s business community.
If you have a story to tell about state agencies and their anti-business actions, I want to hear from you. I would also like to hear of your success stories and how you are managing to retain or create jobs in this tough economy and in spite of New York’s many roadblocks. Please forward your written story to my district office at 2371 N. Main St., Warsaw, NY 14569 or by fax at 585-786-0182. Thank you in advance for your interest in participating and sharing your important voice with lawmakers in Albany.
Assemblyman Dan Burling, NY-147
