Local Leaders: Economic Recovery Dependent Upon End to Democrats’ Tax and Spend Agenda. Losquadro Unveils Economic Development Master Plan.

Assembly Candidate Dan Losquadro today joined NY State Senator Ken LaValle and Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter at a news conference to call for an end to the out of control tax and fee increases imposed upon Long Island by New York State Democrats who control the legislature.

“The Democrat controlled majorities have enacted more than $14 billion in tax and fee hikes over the last two years that have devastated our economy, cost us jobs, and negatively impacted our downtowns,”  said New York State Senator Ken Lavalle. “In addition to the tax increases, the Democrats also eliminated $1.6 billion in property tax relief for Long Island families.”

“During one of the worst economic downturns in a generation, the Democrat controlled legislature has given us some of the largest tax increases in state history,” said Assembly candidate Dan Losquadro.

“Incumbent Democrat Marc Alessi, despite his tough rhetoric to the contrary, voted with Assembly Speaker Shelly Silver 92% of the time. That’s good for New York City and bad for Long Island. I’ll always vote for Long Island and our interests,” Losquadro declared.

“These job killing taxes enacted by the Democrat majorities have stifled economic growth and placed enormous burdens on families and seniors living on fixed incomes. To fight this onslaught, Long Islanders need leaders in Albany with a proven record of cutting taxes and reducing spending. Dan Losquadro will be an important ally in the fight to bring fiscal discipline to Albany,” LaValle said.

“Families are hurting, businesses are struggling; yet state Democratic elected officials continue to increase taxes and fees on the backs of hard working Long Islanders. As your Assemblyman I will fight to repeal the job killing MTA payroll tax and ensure that our schools receive their fair share of state education resources,” said Losquadro.

“Changing Albany’s Democrat majority whose fiscal mismanagement and outdated policies have brought the Empire State to its knees is key to jump starting our economy,” Losquadro said.

From the MTA payroll tax to this year’s Democrat constructed state budget that slashed economic development funding by more than half, the majority leadership in Albany continues to enact policies that kill jobs and hurt Main St.,” Riverhead town Supervisor Sean Walter said.

“As town supervisor I need partners in the State Capital who will work to cut taxes, provide economic incentives for small business that will see our downtowns grow again as well as enacting policies that will strengthen the region’s tourism,” Walter added.

Losquadro said his Economic Development Master Plan for creating jobs and reviving the economy includes:

• Cut and cap state spending
• Cap property taxes and create a STAR program for small businesses
• Eliminate the corporate income tax to make New York a more competitive place to own a business, create jobs and encourage economic investment
• Ban back door borrowing through public authorities and without voter approval
• Repeal  the job killing, MTA payroll tax – one of numerous taxes that fund the State’s largest public authority
• Eliminate unfunded state mandates that increase local costs.

Losquadro explained that the Economic Development Master Plan unites our economic development efforts under one comprehensive blueprint to attract new companies and retain those here.

Losquadro also said that Albany must pass an aggressive pro-business initiative focused on removing the lengthy certification process once contained within the Empire Zones (and currently the Excelsior Jobs Program) and target mid-market companies with potential for growth statewide, including software, biotechnology, and health care companies. Losquadro said public-private partnerships should also be developed to support long-term economic growth.

According to an analysis done by Suffolk County, to date, 55 companies have been able to take advantage of the Suffolk County Empire Zone, resulting in nearly $85 million in capital improvement investments by these firms. Additionally, 15 major employers, through the Regionally Significant designation have kept over 4,200 jobs in the county and created more than 1,200. These figures do not include Canon, which will retain 1200-1300 jobs and create 700-800 when it relocates to Melville.