Upstate Employers and Taxpayers to Rally in Albany

ALBANY, NY (02/07/2010)(readMedia)-- Employers and business leaders from across Upstate New York will rally in Albany to insist that state lawmakers take the necessary steps to lift the burden on New York's over-regulated and over-taxed businesses, communities and citizens

When: 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8

Where: Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Ave., Albany

The delegation will follow Upstate Night with legislative visits on Tuesday, Feb. 9, to share their concerns with state legislators. A variety of employers, as well as business organizations and chambers of commerce will educate state elected officials about the impact that increases in spending, taxes and fees is having on New York's largest special interest group – taxpayers.

The rally is hosted by Unshackle Upstate, a bi-partisan coalition representing more than 45,000 employers with more than one million workers in every region of upstate. The coalition has recently released its 2010 policy agenda that included $12 billion in cost savings for New York's 2010-11 budget year. Unshackle Upstate also is proposing a five-year plan to right-size the state budget to $109 billion by 2015. This initiative proposes returning the state budget to the level it was in 2000 – $77.5 billion, and then adjusting for inflation based on the consumer price index.

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Unshackle Upstate is a bi-partisan coalition representing more than 45,000 employers with more than one million workers in every region of upstate. The coalition's website, www.unshackleupstate.com, allows citizens to join the Unshackle Army and send messages to elected officials in Albany.

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