Unshackle Upstate, a coalition of business and trade organizations, held a news conference June 11 announcing B. Thomas Golisano has joined the association.

"I am pleased to welcome Mr. Golisano as a new member of Unshackle Upstate," said Andrew Rudnick, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and a founder of Unshackle Upstate. "Mr. Golisano is an entrepreneur who has created many jobs in this state. He understands the issues facing employers, and how they are tied to the lack of reform in Albany. We look forward to working with him to amplify our voice and strengthen our political action efforts to advance our goals of reducing state spending and improving the conditions of upstate businesses."

Unshackle Upstate is a coalition of businesses committed to calling attention to the negative policies, laws, taxes and fees that jeopardize the state's business climate. Golisano will support Unshackle Upstate in its expanding efforts to hold New York's elected leaders accountable and demand they pursue reforms that cut government spending, reduce the cost of doing business and provide relief to taxpayers. Since the beginning of this year, New Yorkers have been dealt a one-two punch with the passage of the Deficit Reduction Plan and an irresponsible state budget, which have further threatened the state's economic viability and hindered the ability of employers, individuals and families to survive in New York.

"At a time when New York State's most essential task should be providing an economic atmosphere that encourages job creation, our leaders are doing just the opposite," said Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate. "Refilling the state's general fund through new and increased taxes and fees, particularly the ones directed at those who create jobs, will only serve to drive more private sector investment out of the state, and particularly out of upstate, where job creation is needed most."

As a result of the 2009 legislative session, New Yorker's are faced with:

• A state budget that increased spending by nine percent over the previous year.
• More than 100 new taxes, fees, surcharges and assessments totaling $8 billion, including:

• $850 million in additional health care taxes and other insurance fees.
• $525 million in an increased assessment guaranteed to drive energy costs even higher.

"Our members have long criticized the budget agreement, saying its nine percent spending increase perpetuated Albany leadership's long addiction to overspending," said Sandy Parker, president and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance. "Instead of making long-term structural changes to the state budget and costly programs like Medicaid, lawmakers chose to take the easy way out - attempting to tax its way out of the budget crisis."

A clear example of this poor decision-making is the increase in the personal income tax system that will negatively affect small businesses, 75 percent of which pay their business taxes through the personal income tax system.

"Instead of thinking creatively and carving small businesses out of this measure, lawmakers didn't stop and think; they just rolled ahead and passed a bad budget," said Lou Santoni, president of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. "There is no question: this measure is going to further damage the state's already weakened economy, particularly small businesses. And now much more can they take."

The Unshackle Upstate coalition represents more than 45,000 employers who employ 1.5 million workers in every region of upstate. The coalition's website www.unshackleupstate.com provides a direct way for citizens to send a message to elected officials in Albany.