Alesse

DeWITT - A National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) legislative breakfast program scheduled on St. Patrick's Day attracted 30 business people, but no legislators.

The morning program at the Embassy Suites off Carrier Circle was hosted by NFIB's, New York State Director Mark P. Alesse. He told the gathering that the absence of members of the state senate and assembly was one effect of reforms in Albany.

Alesse explained that under recently adapted reforms, members of the legislature must attend the meetings of committees to which they are assigned. Plus, he said, the legislature is in "full budget mode."

"Reform is in the air," he said.

In his remarks, Alesse painted a mostly gloomy picture for New York businesses. He said that "for the past several years the business climate in New York State has declined." He pointed to the effectiveness of public-employee unions to raise money and "elect or re-elect people."

In contrast, he discussed a Rochester-area legislative race in 2004 in which the NFEB was actively involved in trying to defeat an incumbent member of the assembly, Susan John. (John was reelected).

Alesse noted that while the effort did not succeed, "there isn't a politician alive who likes that kind of pushback." He said that he recently received a hand-signed update on legislation from John.

Alesse briefed the crowd on the budget process, explaining that Gov. George Pataki's $105 billion budget contains changes in how Medicaid will operate. Members of the state legislature have proposed a $107 billion budget.

According to Alesse, State Auditor Alan Hevesi, a Democrat, has warned that if Pataki's budget doesn't hold," the state is headed for an $11-billion budget deficit in two years.

Alesse, whose state organization has 20,000 members, discussed his group's continued focus on changing New York's legal system to reduce the cost of lawsuits and specifically, the state's unique liability regulations that allow workers to sue employers when they are insured, but effectively forbid employers from defending themselves.

"We get a lot of lip service in Albany," Alesse said of the issue, "but very often it doesn't go beyond that."

Alesse warned that the state needs to reduce the costs of doing business, "or we're going to see [more of] the loss of population we've seen."

Two lobbyists present at the breakfast confirmed Alesse's observation regarding reform bringing about changes. Deb Warner of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce said that spaces near the floors of the legislative chambers where legislators and lobbyists once met are now "off limits to lobbyists."

Susan Crossett, vice president of public affairs for Niagara Mohawk, said legislators are harder to meet with because of their committee duties. "I've never seen so much work in the 20 years I've been in Albany," she said.

Spitzer pegged as leader of the future

Mark Alesse, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), and NFIB member Bill Delavan, told the breakfast gathering about a recent meeting they had with New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, a declared candidate for governor in 2006.

Delavan described Spitzer as very intelligent and well prepared, "He does realize this state is on the brink," he said.

NFIB's New York Web site urges members: "Thank Governor Pataki for his effort to control spending and cut taxes. he needs our support right now."

However, on the morning of March 17, Alesse spoke of Spitzer as the future. "I think almost certainly he [Spitzer] will become the next governor."

Noting that Spitzer is independently wealthy and therefore perhaps beyond pressuring by special interest groups, Alesse said, "he might be the kind of guy who can get the job done."

Copyright Central New York Business Journal Mar 25, 2005
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