Small Business Regulatory Watch Launched To Warn of Government-Created Pitfalls
Jennifer Maher | May 7, 2015
New York State Senator Terrence P. Murphy, chairman of the State Administrative Rules and Regulations Commission, has established a small business regulatory watch to make fellow small business owners (he owns two) aware of rules that can adversely affect them. This was in response to New York consistently being ranked 49th on the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index.
“Unelected rule makers create layers of bureaucracy, which prohibit growth and ultimately prevent jobs from being created,” said Sen. Murphy. “My goal is to improve the communication and transparency of government with my fellow business owners. New York needs to reinvest in Main Street.”
Departments, divisions, offices, authorities and commissions are constantly making and remaking rules that have a huge impact on businesses, and few business owners realize they have the opportunity to comment on and potentially impact these proposals. Senator Murphy’s new publication will help shine the light on what up until now has been a largely behind-closed-doors process.
John Ravitz, executive vice president and COO of the Business Council of Westchester, added, “Rulemaking is rarely advertised by Albany politicians, mainly because most of the rules are often-times job killers. Having a strong line of communication between a member of the legislature and the business community is crucial. For Senator Murphy to launch this program within his first three months of taking office proves his desire of making economic development a priority here in Westchester.”
The ARRC Small Business Regulatory Watch will release an e-mail newsletter highlighting certain rules and regulations that could increase burdens on businesses. Murphy hopes to educate small business owners about state and federal regulatory processes as published in the New York State Register, New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, the Federal Register, and the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
Murphy said, “It is time government offers a hand to Main Street and help folks who are trying to run or start a business.” I couldn’t agree more.
Jennifer Maher is a partner of J. Philip Real Estate and Founding Chairwoman of the Putnam County Business Council.