“Is the governor that myopic that he thinks a simple name change and a few tweaks will make this program successful? It is irresponsible that the new, less-restrictive proposal only requires companies to create one new job during their first five years of operation under the program. By continuing the same tax amnesty giveaway under the governor’s rebranding campaign, we are sending the message to existing businesses that you are undeserving of tax relief unless you are one of the select few to qualify for this program.

“I called for the freeze of taxpayer-funded payments to Start-Up NY last spring amidst a pitiful jobs report and failure to consistently produce on time reports, and I am again calling for a freeze of taxpayer funded payments until we see true progress. When it is over 18 percent cheaper to cross the river and start a business in neighboring Pennsylvania or New Jersey rather than in my district, we have a major problem. It is beyond time to scrap this disastrous waste of taxpayer money and help already-existing small businesses.”