End of Session Priorities

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End of Session Priorities

We are at 57,000 e-mails and counting!

That's 57,000 e-mails that have gone to state electeds through the Unshackle Upstate VoterVoice technology. As the New York State Legislature's session enters its final month, it is imperative that we keep the pressure on our elected representatives. If you haven't yet sent an Unshackle Upstate e-mail - or even if you already have, since the message is consistently updated - I urge you to do so now!

Here are the Partnership's and Unshackle Upstate's Albany priorities for the remainder of session:

Energy - There are few issues with more impact upon Buffalo Niagara than the distribution of the hydropower generated at the Lewiston Power Project. Because of legislation expiring on June 30 and the need to deal with the call for new plants downstate, this issue must be dealt with before session ends. The Partnership supports the recommendations contained in the final report of the Temporary Commission on the Future of New York State Power Programs for Economic Development, particularly returning the 70 megawatts of Retention Power (RP) to economic development use in this region.

Wicks Law Reform - While we appreciate that Governor Spitzer has made reform of Wicks Law a focus, we believe that the proposal on the table does not do enough. Unshackle Upstate has partnered with the New York State School Board Association to push for a $10 million statewide increase to the current $50,000 threshold and an outright exemption for school districts. Sadly, the "special interest" politics surrounding this important reform have brought the imposition of costly Project Labor Agreement stipulations into the dialogue, which will water down the benefits of the reform - if not derail it altogether. We are on track for the right version of this long-sought after reform, and must continue to keep our legislative leaders focused.

240/241 -The "Scaffold Law," a unique-to-New York burden on business, continues to drive up insurance costs on Upstate builders and contractors, adding to the cost of projects and inflicting severe impact on the economy. Last year, the "Workers Compensation Improvement Act" would have allowed juries to consider whether an employee's own negligence caused an injury and adjust damages accordingly. We hope to see this important change to 240/241 revisited, as it provides a fairer balance between protecting worker safety and allowing employers to protect themselves against lawsuits.

Again, I urge you to get involved and click here to send a message of support for these three important reforms to your elected officials. The Unshackle Upstate coalition of over 50 business and trade organizations representing upwards of 32,000 companies and employing more than 1 million people has garnered Albany's attention. By the end of the 2007 session, we hope to celebrate the fruits of this monumental, Upstate-wide effort.

Andrew J. Rudnick
President & CEO