State Senate GOP unveils job creation plan

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Associated Press

State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos is proposing a plan to create more jobs in New York through several tax cuts and credits.

The proposal includes ideas for upstate’s declining economy.

Skelos wants to cut taxes on small business in half and eliminate business taxes for small manufacturers. He also wants to offer companies tax credits for creating new jobs and to reform the Empire Zone program to improve accountability.

The $500 million-a-year Empire Zone program has long been criticized as lax when it comes to ensuring that companies given tax breaks create and retain the jobs they promised.

Skelos also wants to expand eligibility for the state’s Healthy New York insurance program to help small businesses reduce health care costs.