Upstate United and NFIB NY Call on Legislators to Stop “The Excessive Seven”

May 19th, 2022

Business groups identify several legislative proposals that would drive up costs amidst record inflation if enacted.

Upstate United and NFIB NY have released a joint list of legislative measures dubbed The Excessive Seven that would increase costs for consumers and employers if enacted this year.

The organizations called on legislators to reject these proposals and instead, find solutions that would make New York more affordable for job creators and working families who are being crushed by high inflation.

The Excessive Seven includes the following bills:

• New York Health Act (S.5474/A.6058)
• All-Electric Building Act (S.6843-C/A.8431-B)
• Extended Producer Responsibility (S.1185-C) (A.10185)  
• Indexing Minimum Wage (S.3062-B/A.7503)
• Anti-Trust Bill (S.933-A/A.1812-A)
• Employee Lien (S.2762/A.766)
• Good Cause Eviction (S.3082/A.5573)

“The last thing Albany should be doing is inflaming the impacts of inflation,” said Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United. “These bills, in one form or another, would add to the crushing burdens that employers and consumers are facing due to historic inflation. Our leaders in Albany most reject these irresponsible bills.”

 “With a few days left of the legislative session, it’s imperative that lawmakers do no harm,” said Ashley Ranslow, New York State Director, NFIB. The unrelenting economic challenges continue to stack up for New York’s small businesses. Increased labor costs, exorbitant Unemployment Insurance taxes, supply chain disruptions, and raging inflation are taking a toll on Main Street. These bills would increase costs across the board at a time when small businesses and consumers can least afford it. Albany must block these proposals and avoid driving costs and inflation even higher.”

According to the latest Consumer Price Index Summary produced by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of inflation increased 8.3% over the last 12 months. Inflation has not reached that level over the last 40 years.

An analysis from The Council for Community & Economic Research published earlier this year found that New York had the third highest cost of living in the country. Additionally, the Tax Foundation found that New York has the second worst business tax climate in the nation according to its 2022 State Business Climate Index.