Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) joined his colleagues at a press conference this morning in the Capitol to call for the suspension of the failed START-UP NY program.

“START-UP NY does nothing to solve the underlying problems with New York’s unfavorable business climate,” said Palmesano. “It ignores the needs of small businesses that have been struggling to stay open in New York for years.”

Palmesano said START-UP NY unfairly picks “winners and losers.”

“We need a bold and aggressive economic plan for New York State to compete in an increasingly global economy,” said Palmesano. “Across-the-board tax cuts give every business an equal chance to succeed. Real regulatory reforms give every business a chance to succeed. This administration can run all of the commercials promoting this failed policy that is wants, but the fact of the matter is that job creators don’t watch what we say, they watch what we do. We are only going to encourage more private sector investment by making our communities more attractive for job creators.”

Palmesano said he sees a real discrepancy between the job creation that was promised by START-UP NY and the negligible impact it has had on employment.

“A taxpayer-funded $211 million public relations campaign to create 76 jobs is just unacceptable,” said Palmesano. “We don’t need more government intervention. We don’t need more commercials, and we don’t need more gimmicks. We need to cut taxes, and we need to roll back these regulations. Time and time again, that is what job creators tell us they need to put New Yorkers to work, and it is time that we deliver.”