WestFair Online editorial staff pose the question to their readers, “Where was the anger in the voting both?” At the same time they stress the need to call for more action.

“So where was the anger everyone talked about?

The majority of Assembly incumbents were returned to their seats in the Hudson Valley.

A few changes in the Senate – and a big upset in U.S. Congressional District 19 as Republican challenger Nan Hayworth unseated Democrat John Hall – but essentially the dysfunction that has marked Albany politics has become a permanent brand in the state’s hide.

It will be more of the same unless Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo can rein in Sheldon Silver.

We heard a great deal about reforming Albany, reducing the size of government and capping property taxes from candidates during the campaigns. It sounded like a lot of rhetoric and in some cases downright disingenuous. When you hear the same old song over and over, it’s grating. Is there any wonder so many tune it out?

Before the election, everyone wanted to rid the Capitol building of all those who were responsible for raising taxes and creating fees that have placed the state nearly dead last in attracting and retaining business.

Yes, this was the year of the business person – so many groups, associations and individuals got more involved in politics.

The Business Council of New York State formed “Enough Already NY,” a campaign opposing new taxes and government spending.

The Westchester County Association launched its Call to Action campaign, a grassroots education and political lobbying initiative. The business group held a rally last spring with former New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch as the featured speaker.

Koch himself was leading a movement called New York Uprising, a nonpartisan, independent coalition advocating for statewide government reform.
The goal was to change politics as usual.

The point was – is – that there’s an anti-business climate developing in New York state, particularly in Westchester. The Hudson Valley is home to three of the highest taxed counties in the nation – Westchester, Rockland and Putnam. And Westchester is No. 1.”

To read more click here.

New York State Senator James L. Seward writes in the Catskill Daily Mail - “Dead last. Number 50 out of 50. That’s where New York placed in the recently released ranking of state business climates by the non-partisan Tax Foundation. The embarrassing showing is yet another example why the economy must be job one in Albany.

The Tax Foundation’s 2011 “State Business Tax Climate Index” (SBTCI) is a clear illustration of just how low New York has sunk when it comes to attracting new businesses and assisting those that already exist. Clearly, those running the ship in Albany have steered far off course and run aground…

he Business Council of New York State has a number of constructive ideas to help breathe new life into the state’s economy. The council’s “Enough Already New York” campaign opposes new taxes, new borrowing and new gimmicks. I concur with the platform and have pledged to support the campaign’s “Five to Survive” reforms.”

To read more click here.

We thought are readers would be interested in the following article by Laura Nahmias City Hall News that cites Democrat Majority Senators (Aubertine, Foley and Valesky) receiving considerable financial support from organized labor.  The support from organized labor is for passage of the Taxpayer Protection Act.  (Martin Act)

With less than two weeks left in the election, three vulnerable state senators—Brian Foley, Darrel Aubertine and David Valesky—are receiving a much-needed boost from several of the state’s largest unions in the form of a $200,000 independent ad buy.

Union officials said the senators are essential to union hopes for passage of the Taxpayer Protection Act, a bill proposed by former primary rivals Assembly Member Richard Brodsky and State Sen. Eric Schneiderman. The bill would expand the Martin Act – giving pensioners who lost billions in the financial meltdown recourse to sue some of the state’s largest financial firms to recoup their losses.

Unions who have contributed to the independent expenditure include SEIU 1199, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 773, and CWA 1180, according to Scott Levenson, president of the Advance Group, the firm putting the ads together.

The expenditure will go toward production of at least three television ads that will air on News12 and local cable stations for the next two weeks, Levenson said. The first ad featuring Foley, a Suffolk County Democrat, will air Friday. The 30-second spot directs voters not to support Foley’s GOP rival, Lee Zeldin.

Read more »

Cara Mathews reports on pressconnects.com - “In a critical election year for New York, special-interest groups are taking an increasingly active role in campaigns.

The stakes are high, they say, because New York is at a critical juncture.

For the first time in its 30-year history, the state Business Council is making political endorsements this year…

Much of the activism is borne out of frustration with state government or a need to ensure the next leaders of New York are hearing the groups’ viewpoints.

“Our members just increasingly feel like there are these two forces — there’s the difficult economic conditions and the economic context … but also a dysfunctional state government that has become increasingly hostile to the business sector,” said Kenneth Adams, president of the Business Council.

The Business Council, for example, has retooled its voters guide and launched an “Enough Already NY” campaign to oppose new taxes and borrowing and promote cuts in spending and fiscal reforms.

Its website lists candidates who have signed the “Five to Survive” pledge to cap property taxes and state spending, reduce the tax burden, limit borrowing and reform the pension system.

“We feel that we’ve got to stand up and make our voices heard,” Adams said.”

To read the rest of the story click here.

Midhudsonnews.com reports - “Kenneth Adams told members of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce meeting at St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie the state should follow their “Five to Survive” plan.

“In a very weak, fragile New York State economy, the state legislature failed to rein in spending and get these things under control, so that’s how we started the campaign; it certainly has gained traction ever since, although again, once the budget was resolved in August, we really began our new theme which is promoting long term reform for the state budget process and reforms for the economy and that’s our ‘Five to Survive’ agenda, our five point plan for economic reform in the state.”

That plan calls for capping property taxes; capping state spending; reducing the tax burden; prohibiting government borrowing to pay operating expenses; and reforming public employee pensions.”

The Times Union reports on Schenectady’s Mayor Brian Stratton attempt to enact taxes that target tax-exempt nonprofits, and other property owners in the city, with what’s known as a Curb Tax.

“Schenectady’s budget woes are prompting Mayor Brian U. Stratton to target tax-exempt nonprofits, and other property owners in the city, with what’s known as a curb fee, while taxpayers would still see their taxes rise and parks, pools and a fire station close.

Meanwhile in Albany, Mayor Jerry Jennings’ top budget officials warned city lawmakers that unless they help sound the alarm about Albany getting shortchanged on state aid, the cuts proposed in Jennings’ 2011 budget will pale in comparison to coming years, when the city might have to make even harder choices about what it can live without.

Homeowners in the town of Glenville and village of Scotia would see tax increases in a budget proposed there by Supervisor Christopher Koetzle. The town plans on using more than $1 million in reserves to soften the blow.”

To read more click here.

The following is part of an editorial in the Plattsburgh Press-Republican - “It’s no secret, of course, that business and labor unions have historically been at odds. That disparity is likely to become even more prominent, as the Business Council of New York State Inc. prepares to endorse state candidates for office for the first time this fall.

Kenneth Adams, president and CEO of the Business Council, was in Plattsburgh last week and acknowledged that the council’s board is considering offering endorsements this fall.

The council professes to be apolitical — strictly nonpartisan. But, in discussing issues important to the council, it’s impossible to avoid political aspects of the council’s work.

Typically, Business Council advocacy sidles more closely to Republican ideals than Democrat. Traditionally, the GOP is the party of business, while Democrats and unions are more closely allied.

Look at the five-part platform the council has adopted this year: a cap on property taxes, a cap on state spending, reduction of the tax burden, reforming public-employee pensions and limiting government borrowing. At least one and perhaps as many as all five fly in the face of could be argued to be contrary to the interests of organized labor. Certainly, pension reform is, and a case could be made that any cap on government revenue could threaten the well-being of members of public unions, even though those members pay taxes.

Are unions at the root of fiscal problems, in the Business Council’s view—

“They offer no solutions, so they are a big part of the problem,” Adams replied.

To read the rest of the editorial click here.

Brian J. Howard writes in the PoughKeepsie Journal - “With a contentious Republican primary settled, the major party candidates for Assembly in the 99th District have unveiled competing calls for tax relief for small businesses.

Democrat Brendan Tully wants to create a $10 million “Mom and Pop Opportunity Fund” that he says would address the credit crunch plaguing small businesses.

Investors would receive a tax credit on top of their investment returns, he said, while business owners would find easy access to needed cash flow.

“Small businesses are hurting across the state,” said Tully, an attorney from Yorktown. “It doesn’t matter if the business is in Scarsdale or Schenectady.”

Such a program has worked on the federal level, he said, citing a program targeting low-income areas.

Katz, however, said small businesses need a tax break, not indirect tax credits. He would cut payroll taxes, including an unpopular new levy by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.”

To read more click here.

WAMC North Country reporter Pat Bradley states in her coverage - “Business leaders and local officials met at the offices of the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce to hear the head of the Business Council of New York State outline its “Five To Survive” plan to rebuild the state’s economy. North Country Bureau Chief Pat Bradley was at the meeting.”

To listen to her radio broadcast interview with Kenneth Adams, president and CEO of The Business Council, click here.

Kenneth Adams in Plattsburgh talking about Enough Already NY economic reforms. photo by WCAX

Mat Hansen of WCAX television reports - “One of New York’s top business leaders visited the North Country Thursday.

Ken Adams is the president of the Business Council of New York State. He talked to several Plattsburgh area business owners and leaders at a breakfast Thursday morning. Adams gave a presentation on the business community’s top five issues for this fall’s statewide elections. His “Five to Survive” presentation pushes for critical change in Albany to promote economic growth.

“It’s five key reforms to get the New York state economy back on track. It’s property tax caps, state spending caps, lowering the tax burden, public employee pension reform and state debt reform,” Adams said.

The Business Council of New York State is the leading business organization in the Empire State, representing the interests of thousands of companies large and small.”

To read more from WCAX click here