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Albany, NY - “Today’s unemployment report from the Department of Labor is further proof that these are serious times in New York State that require the full attention of every elected member of the Legislature. There are now more than 800,000 New Yorkers without jobs, and the statewide unemployment rate has reached a 16-year high. At the current rate, while the Senate has failed to do any work over the last seven session days, approximately 5,000 New Yorkers have lost their jobs. This is not a time for politics and power grabs by lawmakers. This is a time for action, and for placing the people’s interests above personal interests.

“Senate leaders are in discussions that we hope will bring a resolution to the impasse and get the Senate back to work. Should an agreement be reached, we must immediately focus on the many critical pieces of legislation that need to be addressed before the end of session. We must get to work on reforms to the pension system that will stabilize the State’s long-term finances and the Power for Jobs program extension that will continue to create and retain jobs in New York State. At our May 27 Leaders Meeting, there was 5-way consensus that Power for Jobs should be extended. However, if the Legislature fails to act by July 1, this program will expire, jeopardizing the 570 individual businesses currently enrolled in the program and the more than 330,000 New Yorkers they employ.

“Enough is enough. If Senators do not wish to go to work, there are more than 800,000 New Yorkers ready to take their jobs - and salary - today.”