Forcing Companies Receiving Tax Benefits to Stay in NY

Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) stood outside Watson Pharmaceuticals today, in Carmel, and announced historic legislation (Assembly Bill A.7664), to stem the flow of jobs leaving New York and relocating abroad. This bill would deny tax benefits to any corporation that out-sources any of its business to a foreign entity or country.

“The middle class is under assault from all angles. The illegal economy, exploiting illegal aliens, is also undercutting many good paying trades; our manufacturing base has been wiped out by international trade agreements that gut labor while benefiting multinational corporations; and, mid- and upper-income folks are now seeing their technology and service based jobs being shipped over to developing nations where labor accounts for a fraction of business costs. The state and national government must stop subsidizing this practice,” stated Ball.

The Assemblyman called upon the State Legislature to take immediate action to end the state funded participation in the ongoing assault upon the middle class. A few months back, Ball took action on this issue by working with Assemblyman Mike Spano as a co-sponsor on Assembly Bill A.9729, a bill that would require proper occupational safety equipment and a safe working environment for employees, subcontractors and employees of subcontractors.

A recent article in the NY Times brought to light the horrible working conditions of a foundry in India that manufactures manhole covers for Consolidated Edison and New York City. Unbeknownst to most taxpayers, Shakti Industries in India manufactures manhole covers for New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection and Consolidated Edison. Shamefully, workers at Shakti Industries were half-dressed and some were even working barefoot, surrounded by liquid iron at a temperature of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Clearly, safety precautions were not strictly enforced.

Assembly Bill A.9729 addresses this concern by encouraging any public utility regulated by the Public Service Commission to be accountable for the working conditions of any factory or plant that is outsourced by any of the utility companies’ subcontractors. Assemblyman Ball intends to introduce future legislation that would outlaw this practice of international subcontracting altogether.

A former businessman with international experience, Ball has firsthand experience in the global economy. After serving honorably as an Air Force Officer, he oversaw part of the operation of an American family-owned construction company based in Chicago. This company created American jobs abroad by engaging in construction activities domestically, as well as internationally. Assemblyman Ball is a strong supporter of unions and devoted defender of what he calls “blue-collar, bread and butter issues.”

“The world is growing smaller everyday and we must reinvigorate our K-12 educational system to create the hearts and minds that will be able to compete and excel in tomorrow’s global economy. Similarly, we must protect today’s workers while finding opportunities for their employers and industries at large to compete globally while expanding employment and opportunities domestically,” concluded Ball

Forcing Companies Receiving Tax Benefits to Stay in NY

Assemblyman Greg Ball (R – Carmel) stood outside Watson Pharmaceuticals today, in Carmel, and announced historic legislation (Assembly Bill A.7664), to stem the flow of jobs leaving New York and relocating abroad. This bill would deny tax benefits to any corporation that out-sources any of its business to a foreign entity or country.

“The middle class is under assault from all angles. The illegal economy, exploiting illegal aliens, is also undercutting many good paying trades; our manufacturing base has been wiped out by international trade agreements that gut labor while benefiting multinational corporations; and, mid- and upper-income folks are now seeing their technology and service based jobs being shipped over to developing nations where labor accounts for a fraction of business costs. The state and national government must stop subsidizing this practice,” stated Ball.

The Assemblyman called upon the State Legislature to take immediate action to end the state funded participation in the ongoing assault upon the middle class. A few months back, Ball took action on this issue by working with Assemblyman Mike Spano as a co-sponsor on Assembly Bill A.9729, a bill that would require proper occupational safety equipment and a safe working environment for employees, subcontractors and employees of subcontractors.

A recent article in the NY Times brought to light the horrible working conditions of a foundry in India that manufactures manhole covers for Consolidated Edison and New York City. Unbeknownst to most taxpayers, Shakti Industries in India manufactures manhole covers for New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection and Consolidated Edison. Shamefully, workers at Shakti Industries were half-dressed and some were even working barefoot, surrounded by liquid iron at a temperature of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Clearly, safety precautions were not strictly enforced.

Assembly Bill A.9729 addresses this concern by encouraging any public utility regulated by the Public Service Commission to be accountable for the working conditions of any factory or plant that is outsourced by any of the utility companies’ subcontractors. Assemblyman Ball intends to introduce future legislation that would outlaw this practice of international subcontracting altogether.

A former businessman with international experience, Ball has firsthand experience in the global economy. After serving honorably as an Air Force Officer, he oversaw part of the operation of an American family-owned construction company based in Chicago. This company created American jobs abroad by engaging in construction activities domestically, as well as internationally. Assemblyman Ball is a strong supporter of unions and devoted defender of what he calls “blue-collar, bread and butter issues.”

“The world is growing smaller everyday and we must reinvigorate our K-12 educational system to create the hearts and minds that will be able to compete and excel in tomorrow’s global economy. Similarly, we must protect today’s workers while finding opportunities for their employers and industries at large to compete globally while expanding employment and opportunities domestically,” concluded Ball