Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,I,C-Batavia) today blasted so-called “loophole closures” for businesses that he says will raise taxes and stifle the Western New York economy. The proposed “loophole closures” come as part of Governor Eliot Spitzer’s executive budget and is being supported by the Assembly Majority.

“Call it what you want, but it’s a tax on business,” said Hawley. “In a time when we should be improving the business climate by giving tax relief to employers, the Assembly Majority feels it’s more appropriate to levy even more taxes on unsuspecting and overburdened taxpayers.”

“There will come a time in the near future when there will be no more taxes to levy on businesses and residents because neither will be here. Young people are leaving, seniors are being forced from their homes, and families are being forced to make choices whether to raise their children in this state, and it is all because of out-of-control taxing and irresponsible spending. These trends need to be reversed immediately,” added Hawley.