NORWICH – With general elections only two months away, Republican lieutenant governor hopeful Chris Moss made a campaign stop in Chenango County on Wednesday to discuss concerns that are at the forefront for local voters.
Moss, presently serving his third four-year term as Chemung County Sheriff, was announced as the running mate for Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino in May. A leading opponent of the New York SAFE Act and advocate for mineral rights in gas exploration, Moss says he’s running on a platform to restore constitutional rights and make the state more competitive for the development of business and manufacturing.
Moss addressed several issues with residents during a meet and greet in Norwich and Sherburne. Governor Andrew Cuomo has failed to address key priorities during his time in office, he said, putting New York State at a disadvantage in terms of economic growth and stability.
When it comes to New York’s business climate, Moss argued that overbearing regulations are stifling growth statewide. “There’s over 750,000 regulations on the books in New York State,” he said. “That’s ridiculous. We have to deregulate, and we have to stop businesses in New York from leaving beore we can attract new businesses.”
Moss also took aim at the Cuomo administration’s “Start-Up NY” program that gives tax breaks to new businesses in qualified districts, calling the initiative “a joke” and unfair for longtime business owners. “Now we’re regulating the type of business that can come to NYS, where you can locate, and the rules you have to abide by,” he said. “When the state can’t help offset taxes of business owners who have been in business for a long time, there’s an issue.”
On the topic of fracking, Moss said he advocates for the rights of landowners to make their own decision. “Natural gas exploration was big in (Chemung County) when we had a lot of companies move in and getting ready for fracking which never happened ... During that time, we saw our tax revenue go through the roof. And when Cuomo didn’t make a decision, those companies left,” he said.
Moss also spoke against home rule, which puts the decision of fracking in the hands of local municipalities. But it’s the landowners who should have the final say on what they do with their property, he argued.
