New York State is deeply blue. That’s the color mapmakers use to show Democratic control. That’s also the state the state’s economy is in, depressed by those same Democrats’ policies.
So, to lighten the mood, Governor Andrew Cuomo is splurging $140 million tax dollars for TV ads.
One spot features actor Robert DeNiro acknowledging that “some say we lost our edge,” but then claiming, “Well, today there’s a new New York State, one that’s working to attract businesses and create jobs … nurture start-ups and small businesses … reduce tax burdens …”
“The new New York works for business,” the ad concludes.
The New York Times reports “the governor and lawmakers are” funding the campaign by “draining money from ostensibly independent public authorities for purposes running counter to their missions” — something “common” in state government.
Cuomo told the Times, “By telling the stories of businesses that are already succeeding in our state, we can attract even more economic opportunity and jobs.” So what are these “successes”?
- Taxpayers handing Fage Yogurt $1.5 million in state incentives to build a factory in Johnstown.
- Taxpayers providing $3.4 million to help Smith Electric Vehicles build a factory.
- Taxpayers forking over $40 million to assist BAE Systems, which was hurt by flooding back in 2011.
As much as New York politicians recognize they’ve created an environment that businesses want to move away from — the state’s taxes are the least business friendly in the union — their focus isn’t on reversing the rotten business climate. Instead, they cut insider deals.
Yes, more crony capitalism.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
6 replies on “NY Democrats Surrender, Sorta”
Any and all such programs are abominations.
If enterprise must be subsidized to be viable, it is, by definition, not viable in the open market, and therefore the future.
Band-Aids do not cure wounds, they only cover them.
DeNiro should be ashamed.
You’re fighting windmills. As long as the people of New York keep electing these bozos there’s nothing you can do about it. Here’s a solution: Liberty. Let the people of New York elect whomever they choose and then let businesses decide where they want to do business. Nothing else to see here.
Now.…if they do something illegal then put them in jail.
Rick – re: your last comment. IF THEY DO SOMETHING ILLEGAL.
A few years ago, CRAIN’S NEW YORK, a NYC business magazine, had an article about NYC politicians who created “charities” and “non-profits”
(I doubt that the Cincinnati office of the IRS looked closely-they did not say Patriotic or similar terms) (sarc.)
There were a decent number of members of the NY legislature as well as the city government who went to prison for fraud. YET they or their closes are re-elected (or should it be re-erected-as in erection) time and again. And minimal sentences,as I recall. NY is corrupt-not as bad as Chicago and all of Illinois„ but probably close.
My 5 cents, as a conservative
@jay:i just hope nobody proposes a new law!
OT like most of the time:
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has charged three former Barclays employees in connection with its investigation into the manipulation of Libor.
Peter Johnson, Jonathan Mathew and Stylianos Contogoulas allegedly conspired to defraud between 1 June 2005 and 31 August 2007, said the SFO.
The investigation into the alleged fixing of the key benchmark Libor rate was launched in 2012.
Barclays was fined £290m ($454m) in 2012 by British and US regulators.
Its previous fine was over the manipulation of Libor and Euribor interbank rates between 2005 and 2009.
Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond and chairman Marcus Agius resigned in 2012 after the scandal.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26228635
What if the owners of the businesses they want to attract are Pro-life, recognize only a marriage between a man and a woman, and own firearms for the protection of their family and business?