Republican gubernatorial candidate Robert Astorino stopped in Rochester on Tuesday to outline his jobs plan.
The Westchester County executive wants to review hundreds of thousands of state regulations and mandates that he says is increasing the cost of doing business in New York
"Jobs, jobs, jobs, that's what this campaign is about. That’s what this region needs. Lower taxes, less regulations that's how this economy is going to improve with the private sector taking a chance here, not government."
Astorino also wants to reduce taxes, incentivize high-tech startups and strengthen agriculture. He proposes to eliminate Thruway tolls for farm-based trucks transporting produce to market.
Another part of the 7-point agenda is to move forward with hydraulic fracturing to help boost the state's economy.
"To not move forward with this is an absolute dereliction of duty by the state because there are billions and billions of dollars on the table that can be brought into the state and local communities, for our schools, to lower taxes, to put a lot of people back to work at all different skill levels, education levels,” Astorino says. “It will lower our energy cost, which are some of the highest in country."
Astorino wants to repeal the Scaffold Law, which holds contractors, employers and property owners responsible regardless of evidence of worker negligence. He also wants to cut wait times for government permitting.
Astorino is challenging Governor Andrew Cuomo's bid for a second term. Cuomo will face Fordham University law professor Zephyr Teachout in the 2014 Democratic Primary.