The Empire Center today released “Checklist for Change,” a summary of more than 20 reforms needed to promote renewed economic growth and competitiveness for New York State.

“By almost any measure, New York for many years has been failing to keep up with national economic growth trends, and exporting millions of residents to other states,” said E.J. McMahon, the Empire Center’s research director. “Our initial checklist of policy priorities focuses on six areas in which national rankings show we’re a national outlier. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of needed changes, but essential first steps towards lasting change.”

Key priorities include:

• cutting taxes;
• curbing health care costs;
• controlling public employee compensation;
• reducing employer costs;
• adopting pro-growth energy policies; and
• streamlining development regulations.

The Empire Center, based in Albany, is an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit think tank dedicated to promoting policies to make New York a better place to live, work and do business.