Database That Does Not Include Uniform Definition of Job is Fake Transparency
Over 20 unions, watchdogs, and advocacy groups, 30 state legislators, and 75 members of the clergy, and editorial boards support the robust ‘Database of Deals’ – which includes a uniform definition of “job” – that is in the Senate and Assembly one-house budget bills. Transparency, fiscal, and government watchdog groups have sought a comprehensive database of the state’s $5 billion in business subsidies since 2015. The core of the database is a uniform definition of job across all tax expenditures and taxpayer-subsidized programs and projects. Having a single definition of job will allow New Yorkers to make apples-to-apples comparisons of the cost per job.
Not surprisingly, supporters of taxpayer giveaways to businesses do not want the public to see clearly how much is being spent per job by the dozens of different state subsidy programs. They know these programs cannot withstand scrutiny and real transparency because study after study has shown taxpayer subsidies to businesses are a bad investment.
Here is a list of organizations, legislators, clergy members, and editorial boards that have supported the Database:
Unions, watchdogs, advocacy organizations
Reinvent Albany
New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness
Albany County Central Federation of Labor
ALIGN-NY
Alliance for Quality Education
American Economic Liberties Project
Citizens Budget Commission
Citizens Union
Common Cause New York
Empire Center for Public Policy
Empire State Indivisible
Good Jobs First
League of Women Voters of New York State
Metro New York Health Care for All
New York Public Interest Research Group
New York Communities for Change
NYC Employment and Training Coalition (NYCETC)
New York Public Interest Research Group
New York State Council of Churches
New York State United Teachers (NYSUT)
Strong Economy for All
Wallace
McDonald
Solages
Friend
Stirpe
Hunter
Tapia
Aubry
Rosenthal L
Steck
Englebright
Abinanti
Thiele
Otis
Woerner
McMahon
Colton
Epstein
Zinerman
Magnarelli
Fahy,
Gottfried
Simon
Sillitti
Glick
Ramos
Seawright
Norris
Abbate
Comrie
Addabbo
Gounardes
Krueger
Salazar
Skoufis
Editorial boards