Chamber Passes Resolution In Support of Open Government and a Business Friendly Environment
The Mohawk Valley Chamber Board of Directors passed the following resolution on February 12:
WHEREAS, The Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce supports fair and open government and a business friendly environment; and
WHEREAS, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law on January 15, 2013 The Safe Act, a sweeping package of gun-control measures for the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill less than three hours after the State Assembly approved it on the second full day of the 2013 legislative session; and
WHEREAS, Governor Cuomo cited that gun violence constituted an emergency which required immediate action and waived a constitutionally required three-day waiting period between the introduction of legislation and a vote; and
WHEREAS, Remington Arms Company has a manufacturing plant that employs approximately 1,300 workers in Ilion; and
WHEREAS, Remington Arms Company and the region as a whole will be negatively effected by The Safe Act; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce holds that no public comment was considered or allowed, there was no time to read nor reflect on the bill, no consideration was made to any unforeseen or unintended consequences and that passing laws in secret is not the way open government should act.
