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Mission
The Legislative Action Committee advocates for:
Chamber members at all levels of government
Economic development and job growth
Efficient and effective government
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Special Legislative Breakfast, December 2023. From Left, NY Senator Rob Rolison, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado -
Special Legislative Breakfast December 2023. From Left, County Executive Sue Serino, Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado -
Special Legislative Breakfast, December 2023. From Left, NY Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and NYS Assemblyman Anil Beephan -
Special Legislative Action Committee Breakfast, December 2023. -
Legislative Action Committee December 2023 Breakfast -
VIP forum on the Dutchess County Jail Proposal with County Executive Marcus Molinaro. From left, LAC Co-Chair Paul Mancarella, County Exec. Marcus Molinaro, Co-Chair Jeffrey B. Senft, and Chamber President & CEO Frank Castella, Jr. -
Forum with candidates for the State 41st Senate District. From left, Sen. Sue Serino, Chamber President & CEO Frank Castella, Jr., Board President John Davies, and challenger Terry Gipson -
Forum with candidates for the U.S. 18th Congressional District. From left, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, Chamber President & CEO Frank Castella, Jr., and challenger Phil Oliva -
Forum with state elected officials. From left, Committee Co-Chair Jeffrey Senft, Assemblymember Kieran Michael Lalor, State Senator Sue Serino, President & CEO Frank Castella, Jr., Committee Co-Chair Paul Mancarella. Not shown: Assemblymember Didi Barrett. -
VIP presentation on the proposed Dutchess County Budget with County Executive Marcus Molinaro. From left, Board President Jen Dunn, Co-Chair Paul Mancarella, County Exec. Marcus Molinaro, Co-Chair Philip Bronzi, Chamber President & CEO Frank Castella, Jr.
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Objectives
- Review and recommend policy changes to legislators regarding issues being considered by federal, state, county, and local governments.
- Investigate issues of concern to the business community and make recommendations to legislators regarding actions they should take.
- Educate members on legislation under consideration by federal, state, county, and local governments, and if needed, ask members to contact their legislative leaders.
- Sponsor events with legislators for the Chamber's Board of Directors and committee members.
SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS
- Successfully negotiated a lower statewide Minimum Wage than NYC. It will only be $12 instead of the proposed $15 (New York State)
- Advocated for the inclusion SNUG funding (City of Poughkeepsie)
- Supported legislation to include the Hudson Valley into the Film Tax Credit (New York State)
- Supported PILOT payments for MacDonnell Heights Center District Project (Town of Poughkeepsie)
- Supported the alienation of Wheaton Park to be redeveloped into a mixed-use development project under Pelton Manor Partners (Poughkeepsie)
- Supported Law on Aggressive Panhandling (City of Poughkeepsie)
- Supported continuous loop of bus transportation from MTA, DIA and Main Street (Beacon)
- Supported Dutchess County Transition Center Expansion (County of Dutchess)
- Supported the Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank (Federal)
UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS
- Opposed statewide Minimum Wage of a $15 (New York State)
- Opposed Paid Family Leave (New York State)
- Opposed to an increase in Salary/Overtime Threshold signed into law via Executive Order by President Obama (Federal)
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At a Glance
WE SUPPORT
CLICK HERE to read the full Agenda
All levels of Government
- Consolidation of agencies, state programs and local governments to ensure we are creating shared services to provide better and more efficient government
- Transparency among elected officials and the public
Federal
- ACA Reform
- Reauthorize the Export-Import Bank
- Legal Immigration System reform
New York State
- Scaffold Law Reform
- Unemployment Insurance Reform
- Worker's Compensation Reform
- Unfunded Mandate Relief
- Repeal of the MTA Tax
- Annual MTA Forensic Audit
- Term Limit Reform
- State Formula for fairly funding school districts
- More state funding for Vocational Skills Training
- Agri-tourism Farming Legislation
- Removing Vicarious Liability for loaner vehicles at Auto Dealerships
- Abolishment of the Wage Tip Credit
Dutchess County
- Planning Board Streamlining and Regulation Relief
- Consolidation of City of Poughkeepsie Bus System with County Bus System
City of Poughkeepsie
- Downtown Business Improvement District (BID)
- Measures to improve Safety and Security
- Consolidation of City of Poughkeepsie Bus System with County Bus System
- Pelton Manor Project - Advocacy
- Poughkeepsie Alliance Support & Advocacy
- Transit-Orientated Development Plans
- SNUG funding
Beacon
- Funding for Incline Railway
Fishkill
- Fishkill Deport-Continental Commons Project
Town of Poughkeepsie
- Hudson Heritage Project
WE OPPOSE
All levels of Government
- Any law, regulation or mandate that will make it harder to do business in New York State.
Federal
- Paid Family Leave Legislation
- Minimum Wage Increase
- Increase in Salary/Overtime Threshold
- Health Care reform
New York State
- FIT Chargebacks to the County
- Department of Labor proposed changes to Call-In/On-Call pay
- Department of Labor proposed Ban the Box
- Department of Labor proposed Credit Checks
- Department of Labor proposed Salary History
- Government Sponsored Retirement Program
- Single payer health plan with 80% employer contribution
- Expansion of the prevailing wage
Dutchess County
- The Item Pricing Law - REPEALED!
- Jail Expansion & Rate of Recidivism
City of Poughkeepsie
- The Live-In Superintendent Proposal
Red Hook
- Proposed Zoning law prohibiting small business franchise expansion