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2006 Political Endorsements
This year’s election season bears a number of hotly contested races, wide-reaching undercurrents of uncertainty, and true frustration with New York’s business climate. In the last election cycle, we were armed with the mission to identify true reformers - candidates willing to espouse real change in the political and legislative processes. In this year’s interview process, we found ourselves looking back at mild reforms and progress, but an even greater need to remedy the anti-business climate faced by manufacturers and business in New York State.
Manufacturing continues to drive job growth in New York State and the U.S. According to economists, each industrial job indirectly creates two or more other jobs in supplier firms, in companies that sell goods or services to workers and their families, and in government, varying from region to region based on pay, benefits, and other factors. The national average job multiplier of one manufacturing job is 2.34 jobs created in other sectors – Upstate New York is even higher, at 2.67. Manufacturing jobs pay about $54,000 a year, 20 percent more than the average compensation in the nation. A strong economy relies on a strong manufacturing sector.
Our committee again pressed for endorsements of reform-minded candidates, pressing further for specific support of legislation and definitive, immediate action on issues such as workers compensation, energy costs, healthcare costs, Medicaid, and the corporate franchise tax. The endorsed candidates have espoused the need to immediately address these issues in the next legislative session. Additionally, the candidates we have chosen have demonstrated a deep understanding of the issues most of concern to the manufacturing community – a necessity if reform is to be a reality.
Governor of New York: The race for Governor includes NYS Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and John Faso. John Faso has long been a friend to business. His consistent support of pro-business policy and hard work on business issues has been well documented. It is certain, however, that we need a change in Albany, and Eliot Spitzer has committed to dramatically change policy in New York. In determining our endorsement in the race for Governor, we particularly found that Eliot Spitzer identified workers' compensation reform to reduce the burden of high premiums while increasing benefits for most workers; reduction of property taxes; reform of mandates such as the Wicks Law; a priority to lower the cost of energy; restructure our health care system to make it more affordable; and streamline regulations to make them friendly to business. BIPAC endorses Eliot Spitzer in the race for Governor.
49th State Senate District – The race in the 49th Senate district includes incumbent Senator Dave Valesky and Assemblyman Jeff Brown. Jeff Brown has demonstrated he is knowledgeable about the issues, hard working and determined to make a difference. Throughout his four years in Albany, he has demonstrated a commitment to work on issues important to manufacturers. Specifically, Assemblyman Brown’s push for Medicaid reform and his proposed legislation to investigate fraud features the kind of pro-manufacturing/pro-business stances we are hoping for from our legislators. In his two years as a State Senator, Dave Valesky has earned a reputation of responsiveness. His vocal advocacy on manufacturing and business issues such as energy costs and workers compensation reform are well documented through his consistent and verbal support for AB 12000/SB8212 – or the “worker safety bill,” and his work on the Senate Energy Committee and Temporary Commission on the Future of New York’s Low Cost Power Programs. BIPAC particularly notes concern with preserving the two party system in New York State, and the need therefore to preserve the current Senate Majority. We are fortunate to be faced with two pro-business candidates; BIPAC announces a decision to make no endorsement in this race.
121st State Assembly District – This race for the seat vacated by Assemblyman Jeff Brown consists of Onondaga County Legislator Bill Meyer and Al Stirpe. Again, this race featured two candidates extremely well versed and knowledgeable on the critical issues hampering manufacturing and business growth in New York State. Bill Meyer has served on the County Legislature for over 15 years, chairing the economic development committee, and working continuously to enact pro-business legislation and policy. Al Stirpe has an extensive manufacturing background, and a deep knowledge of the most critical issues for manufacturers, based in his experience founding and running two successful manufacturing companies over the past 20 years. The choice between these candidates is difficult, but we ultimately endorse Al Stirpe for this seat. We have long advocated for legislators with a working knowledge of the manufacturing industry. We endorse Al Stirpe.
131st State Assembly District – The race for the 131st Assembly district includes incumbent Susan John and challenger John Ferlicca. New York’s business costs like worker’s compensation and liability insurance are all uncompetitive, yet the Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee has done nothing to change the laws that drive out jobs. So New York continues to have the nation’s only remaining Scaffold Law, which adds $10,000 to the cost of a starter home, or the Wicks Law that drives up the cost of building a new school or community center in upstate. In a sense, this Rochester race is a referendum on the upstate economy and a government that has been unresponsive. How Rochester votes, now that business leaders from NFIB, the Rochester Business Alliance, the Manufacturers’ Association of Central New York, and the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, Binghamton, and Buffalo have weighed-in with support for John Ferlicca, will be telling. We endorse John Ferlicca.
On behalf of the Central Upstate manufacturing community would like to weigh in on the political races below as well. The Business-Industry Political Action Committee offers the following endorsements based on some or all of the following criteria: an examination of candidate records in public office, candidate interviews, and the determination of candidates who will best represent the interests of manufacturers in Albany and Washington:
State Senate:
47th District: Joe Griffo
48th District: Jim Wright
50th District: John DeFrancisco
51st District: Jim Seward
53rdDistrict: George Winner
54th District: Michael Nozzolio
55th District: Jim Alesi
State Assembly:
107th District: Clifford Crouch
110th District: Jim Tedisco
111th District: Bill Magee
115th District: David Townsend
116th District: RoAnn Destito
119th District: Joan Christensen
120th District: Bill Magnarelli
124th District: Will Barclay
128th District: Bob Oaks
129th District: Brian Kolb
132nd District: Joseph Morelle
140th District: Robin Schimminger
Federal:
TBA
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