Issues Below are some of the issues Joe believes are most important to our community. Economic Development As Upstate New York looks to transform its economy, Joe Morelle has emerged as a leading advocate in the State Assembly for policies that spur job creation. In just his second term in Albany, he helped draft what, at the time, was the largest business tax break ever in New York State. At Joe's request, the Assembly created the Subcommittee on Manufacturing, with Joe as chairman, as a means of providing New York’s manufacturing community a greater voice in state government. He also served on the Speaker's Task Force on Budget Reform and the Workers' Compensation Reform Task Force, and co-chaired the Assembly's Welfare Reform Task Force. In 2005, Joe addressed those challenges in a report entitled Creating A State of Innovation: Unleashing the Power of New York’s Entrepreneurial Economy that detailed the decline of New York as an economic power and offered numerous policy prescriptions for reversing that decades-long trend. Many of the recommendations in that report have either been enacted in to law, or, adopted by multiple gubernatorial administrations. Creating A State of Innovation has been widely praised by business and academic leaders, other elected officials and editorial boards across the state. |
Recently, Joe has become a leading voice in the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, recognizing they possess the potential to transform New York’s economy and provide good paying, permanent jobs for the Upstate region. Joe’s report is the culmination of years of advocacy for new economic and tax policies. His passion for job creation and making New York more competitive stems in part from his own experience as founder and president of MMI Technologies Inc., a software development firm. He knows first-hand the difficulties small businesses face when attempting to make a profit while meeting the demands of the state’s high tax burden. |
Insurance Reform Few sectors regulated by government have a degree of impact on individuals and the economy as great as insurance. Families need and deserve adequate health care; parents and spouses naturally wish to protect their loved ones and property in the event of personal tragedy or natural disaster; businesses need to insure against the liabilities inherent in their operations while maintaining a strong bottom line. Hence, the work of the Committee on Insurance is of critical importance to the fiscal and economic well-being of our private and commercial citizens. From the cost of health care premiums to the regulation of Wall Street’s financial services industry, Joe is committed to bringing issues of long-term importance before the committee for discussion and resolution. In just three years, Joe has helped implemented landmark reforms to New York’s insurance law. In 2009, his sweeping managed care reform legislation broadly enhanced consumer protection requirements. This year, he helped reinstate prior approval of health insurance premiums, which will allow the state insurance department to review insurers’ rates before they go into effect. Morelle also authored the law that will, for the first time in New York State, require insurers to cover treatment for children with autism. Morelle also emerged as a national figure after the epic market crash of 2008. In early 2009, he testified before Congress regarding regulatory reform of financial markets, particularly so-called “credit default swaps.”Public Safety Joe’s legislative priorities also include a broad range of anti-crime measures. Committed to keeping dangerous predators off our streets, he introduced legislation in the Assembly to require DNA collection upon all felony arrest. Katie’s Law takes its name from Katie Sepich, murdered in 2003 by a man who was not charged in that case for three years because his DNA was not on file. In response to a dreadful local incident, where a health care worker sexually assaulted an incapacitated woman, Morelle spearheaded a law requiring mandatory background checks for nursing home and home-health care workers. Joe also advocated civil confinement for dangerous sexual predators even after release from prison, and the elimination of the statute of limitations in felony rape and sexual assault cases. Fighting for Monroe County Joe’s primary responsibility is preserving and improving quality of life for the people he represents. Earlier in 2010, he helped spearhead a local effort to convince a British company, CodyGate ventures, to bring 250 good paying, high-tech jobs to the old Eastman Kodak Park in Rochester. This is exactly the type of momentum the Rochester-area needs, and Morelle is eager to build upon this victory for our area. Fighting for change many times involves being bold enough to take on controversial issues. Few would suggest that the Rochester City schools are adequately providing children with the opportunity they deserve. In fact, a 46 percent graduation rate resoundingly proves otherwise. This year, Morelle joined Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy in fighting for and passing legislation to reform the governance of the district. Reforming State Government Like you, Joe Morelle is frustrated with Albany. During his time in the Assembly, he has never shied away from calling for reform, even if it was the unpopular thing to do at the time within the Capitol. In 2005, he was one of the first Democratic Assembly members to call on the legislature to implement the Brennan Center Reforms. Recently, Morelle was named a “Hero of Reform” by the New York Uprising, and has joined with Andrew Cuomo in calling for drastic change to New York State government. He also is committed to helping our next governor implement a 2 percent cap on property taxes. |
