Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C-Black River) says key policies still must be adopted to ensure real job growth, permanent fiscal restraint and lasting mandate relief.

“We’ve made some important strides in the budget this year, but statewide policy needs to catch up,” said the 122nd District Assemblyman, looking back at the recent passage of the state budget.

Speaking about the need to give help to disadvantaged “job creators,” Blankenbush said, “If we want to see aggressive job and economic recovery, we need to repeal taxes, fees, fines and the layers of red tape that hinder job creators in the first place. If we want to be responsible to our taxpayers, why not enact a permanent two percent spending cap like the one that was successfully self-imposed in this year’s budget.

“Finally, Albany must admit that unfunded mandates aren’t working for anyone – the taxpayers, local governments and those who rely on the services provided by these entities. Albany must not only remove existing unfunded mandates, but also stop imposing them on localities once and for all.”

Blankenbush said he favored programs like $4.6 billion to fix crumbling roads and bridges, $800 million in economic development programs, and over $21 million in agricultural programs.

The assemblyman said that New York is one of the least business-friendly states in the nation, and the fix would be to lift the burdens on beleaguered job creators. A number of what he believes are pro job-growth amendments to the budget have been offered, but he complains they were rejected by Assembly Democrats.

Blankenbush favors the Small Business Relief Act, a tax reduction for manufacturers, and elimination of the employers’ share of Unemployment Insurance.

The assemblyman notes that the 2012-13 State Budget is a clear indication that New York may be on its way to better fiscal restraint. He said he wants to make the two percent spending cap permanent to deliver his fellow legislators from temptation to increase spending to unsustainable levels.