“This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has lived in this state for more than a few years. New York has a tax and spend problem far beyond the situation in other states, and to make that worse state leaders continually drive out businesses in favor for new companies run by the politically connected, who in turn receive tax-free amnesty for a decade.

“When prestigious companies like Remington Arms, General Electric and Bausch & Lomb would rather pack up shop and move operations elsewhere, it signals a major problem with how Gov. Cuomo sees economic development.

“I talk to business owners all the time in my district who tell me it’s up to 18 percent cheaper to operate across the river in neighboring Pennsylvania than in New York, and that is a shameful reflection on our state’s leadership.

“It is for all these reasons that I believe two important pieces of legislation must be passed this session, my property-tax relief bill that aims to cut a homeowner’s property-taxes by as much as 75 percent and the Small Business Full Employment Act which reduces red tape and seeks to maximize business growth through common-sense solutions. Both are supported by lawmakers from either side of the aisle yet both have been stalled in committee since last winter.

“Albany and state leaders with nebulous agendas are overcomplicating the issues. We already have plenty of common-sense, bipartisan solutions, such as these, that would go a long way to keep businesses and residents in New York, we just need to political will to make them a reality.”