In our series highlighting "A Few Bright Lights" in the New York State Assembly, today we bring you Steve McLaughlin. New Yorkers for Growth endorsed Steve for office and contributed to his campaign in 2010. Since taking office in January 2011, he's made us proud. The Business Council recently awarded Assemblyman McLaughlin its highest rating for any Assembly member for the 2011 legislative session.

Assemblyman McLaughlin, you have a degree in business and, after working as a commercial pilot, you went to work for a regional bank that loans to small business. What made you run for office?

I speak to small business owners every day about the struggles of starting and growing a small business in New York. I couldn't stand on the sidelines any longer. First, business owners have to deal with absurd State agencies and regulations. How about the pizza shop owner in Albany who, despite running an excellent business, was fined $5535 by the State Department of Labor this month for not having a tee shirt for every last one of his part-time employees? (Story linked here) Is this what we want our public servants doing? And why do we need a State Department of Labor when we already have a federal one?

Business owners then have the privilege of paying for State bureaucracy with some of the highest property taxes, individual income taxes, and unemployment insurance taxes in the nation. I want to keep business owners in New York, rather than having them head to places like Florida to avoid New York taxes. That should be the goal of every State legislator.

You've been a champion of the property tax cap. What is it and why do we need it?

I sponsored legislation that would BOTH cap increases to property taxes by local governments at 2% AND place a moratorium on Albany's unfunded mandates on local governments. Albany has been playing a game with taxpayers where it comes up with programs that it can't pay for, and then passes the costs down to local governments, which are even less able to pay for the mandates other than by raising property taxes. The tax cap became law, which is a critical and important accomplishment if we're ever going to be able to break this cycle of irresponsible spending. But there's been no leadership from the Governor on stopping unfunded mandates. He's been kicking the can down the road. A year ago he appointed a 32-person Commission to study unfunded mandates. They disbanded quietly in the middle of the Christmas season, having accomplished nothing. This year, the Governor has given us a 12-person Task Force. Meanwhile, local governments are using up their reserve funds to fund the whims of Albany. It's a cowardly way to govern.

Do you see any relief from the Governor's recent budget, which touted an income tax cut?

Only in Albany could legislation that raised $3.5 billion in revenue from taxpayers be touted as a tax cut. Middle-income taxpayers were given back a couple of bucks a week, and the top end was gouged. There was not the slightest effort to rein in spending at all. Despite intense pressure from the Governor, I was one of few to vote against it.

How long will Albany keep going back to the well without doing anything about spending?

Only in Albany could legislation that raised $3.5 billion in revenue from taxpayers be touted as a tax cut. Middle-income taxpayers were given back a couple of bucks a week, and the top end was gouged. There was not the slightest effort to rein in spending at all. Despite intense pressure from the Governor, I was one of few to vote against it.

What's on your To Do List for 2012?

We don't need a Commission or a Task Force to tell us what needs to be done in Albany. The priority of New York State government right now is to get people back to work. To do that we need to reduce spending from last year -- not just reduce the rate we increase spending -- but reduce the bottom line number from year to year until the State is on more solid footing. If we cut State government, we can cut the costs to taxpayers and get government out of the way of the private sector so it can get people back to work. I will do everything in my power to further that cause.

NYFG commends Assemblyman McLaughlin and asks that you support him by clicking here.

Many thanks for your continued good judgment and support,

New Yorkers for Growth

P.S. New Yorkers for Growth has made significant achievements on a shoestring budget. To help us achieve more, please contribute here today!