Back

Cathy Young speaks to Jamestown Rotary

Photo by Nicholas L. Dean
 
10/13/09
JAMESTOWN POST JOURNAL
By NICHOLAS L. DEAN OBSERVER Mayville Bureau JAMESTOWN

State Senator Cathy Young, R-Olean, praised private business and criticized New York’s government Monday during the Rotary Club of Jamestown’s lunch meeting. “You can’t tax your way out of a recession and you can’t spend your way out of a recession,” Young said, “you have to grow your way out of it.” To do that, Young spoke of instituting “good policies” which will support small businesses and stimulate the economy. “What (the state) did was basically sit and expand on a lot of social programs and there wasn’t anything in the budget that helped to grow businesses, especially small businesses and manufacturers,” Young said. “When you look at every recession in modern day history, it’s been small businesses that have led the way out of it. So we need to focus on developing our small businesses. “I’m very concerned about some of the decisions that have been made in Albany,” Young continued. Specifically, Young discussed the state’s budget process, the state’s reluctance to cut spending and the increased taxes placed upon New Yorkers. Throughout her district, Young said, the number one thing she is hearing from constituents is that taxes are an issue. Property taxes, she said, are driving people, businesses and jobs out of the state. “We’ve got to turn that around,” Young said. “I believe very strongly that we have to put in a property tax cap, do things like pass a constitutional spending cap because not only did (the state) increase taxes, but they also increased spending during a recession — and now they’re wondering why we have this mid-year budget gap. “I believe that we should stand up and demand that Albany takes action,” Young continued, “that we do the responsible, accountable thing for the taxpayers. I’m sure we have to make more cuts and it’s going to be painful and at the same time, you can’t raise taxes again. You can’t raise spending again. We’ve got to get the right policies in place.” Before taking questions, Young reiterated her point that the private businesses need to grow for the economy to get better. “The only way that we can turn this around is if we put into play policies that are going to stimulate the economy, regrow the economy,” Young said. “I know that many of you are on the front lines right now doing that every single day. You’re out there working hard, providing jobs, trying to do the right thing and we have to build on your successes because I believe that Albany should just get out of the way and let the private sector work.”

|