Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) cites Albany’s lack of desire to cut taxes and eliminate regulations and mandate relief as primary reasons why the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) ranked New York last in economic outlook. The rankings were calculated using 15 different state policies, including personal income tax, corporate tax, property tax burden, estate taxes, and others.

“We just concluded voting on a budget that tackled none of the issues ALEC ranks as affecting our economic outlook,” Friend said. “Instead, we discussed all sorts of liberal policies which either didn’t make the budget or had no place in a budget to begin with. This budget provided no mandate relief, which means we will feel no property tax relief. The budget failed to eliminate regulations preventing Main Street from thriving. This budget failed to give New York a more livable tax climate. This budget only provides the same failed economic incentives that only benefit the politically connected. We deserved a budget that improved New York’s standing, not one that ignored it.”

Friend is the Ranking Minority Member of the Assembly Committee on Local Governments, and is a sponsor of the Small Business Full Employment Act, which enacts a series of tax and regulatory relief for businesses with fewer than 100 employees.