State Senator Catharine Young has announced that she is seeking re-election to the 57th District, which includes Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Allegany and parts of Livingston counties.
"It has been an incredible privilege to represent the people I serve, and we have made great progress in turning our state around to a positive direction. Now is the time to build on this success, especially by continuing to rebuild the economy and giving our hardworking, overburdened taxpayers relief," Young said.
Sen. Young successfully worked to stop billions of dollars in tax hikes proposed by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, voted to cut taxes on small businesses and manufacturers to grow more jobs, advanced the historic two-percent property tax cap to rein in runaway property taxes and controlled state spending through responsible budgeting.
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Sen. Catharine Young
"State government is functioning again. Voters expect and deserve positive results, which we have been able to accomplish by working in a bi-partisan partnership with Governor Andrew Cuomo," she said.
"Although we have made progress, there is much more that needs to be done to grow jobs and make New York's business climate competitive. It is a combination of eliminating burdensome red tape and laws that impede economic growth, reducing our tax burden and establishing common sense incentives," she said.
Sen. Young co-sponsors a job creation incentive package that includes tax cuts and job creation credits, including tax reductions for small business and manufacturers, a job creation credit based on new job-related personal income taxes and a repeal of a 500 percent hike in utility taxes. The plan, which has passed the Senate, has been hailed by job advocacy groups.
"We need to rev up the economy, and create private sector jobs to get people back to work and have career opportunities so our young people can stay after they graduate. I am committed to advancing common sense policies to achieve these goals," she said.
For her accomplishments, Senator Young has been endorsed by the state's top business groups, including the Business Council of New York State, Unshackle Upstate and the National Federation of Independent Businesses. She is recognized as a member of the Farm Bureau's Circle of Friends, and has received many honors and awards.
Currently, Sen. Young serves in several leadership roles, including Senate Liaison to the Executive Chamber; Chair of the Standing Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development; and Chair of the bi-partisan Commission on Rural Resources. She also is a member of many committees, including Finance, Health, Agriculture, Environmental Conserv-ation, Transportation, Insurance, and Children and Families.
She said that taking on so many responsibilities allows her to be an effective voice for the people in her district.
Sen. Young has earned the distinction of being number one in having the most legislation passed in the Senate over the past two years, with 125 of her bills being approved. She ranks first in the entire state Legislature for passing two-house bills, with 56 of her initiatives being approved by both the Republican-led Senate and Democrat-controlled Assembly in the 2011 and 2012 sessions, according to data compiled by the New York State Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG).
In addition, she has negotiated several of her initiatives in the final state budgets, including a tax abatement that is revitalizing downtowns by incentivizing private sector investment to restore historic buildings and bring in small businesses and commerce. She also spearheaded funding for a telehealth demonstration project to increase rural access to efficient, quality health care by allowing frail elderly to stay in their homes longer through using cutting-edge technology.
"The progress we have made is exciting, and I will continue to work to achieve positive results. We can and we must restore hope, opportunity and prosperity by making New York state an affordable place to live, work, do business and raise a family," she said.
Sen. Young, who is running unopposed, is endorsed by the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties.
