Trump’s presidency boosts businesses’ optimism, according to official
Photo by Tom Rivers: Ken Pokalsky, vice president of government affairs for the Business Council of New York State, speaks during Friday’s Legislative Luncheon for the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.
ALBION – Ever since Donald Trump pulled off his upset in winning the presidency, the stock market is up and businesses have more optimism in New York, said Ken Pokalsky, vice president of government affairs for the Business Council of New York State.
His organization functions as a state-wide Chamber of Commerce, and lobbies the State Legislature and governor for business-friendly legislation.
The organization recently polled its members and found a big jump in confidence since Trump was elected, Pokalsky told 84 people during Friday’s Legislative Luncheon put on by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.
“The businesses are very optimistic,” Pokalsky said. “They see less barriers from the government.”
He said the upstate economy has barely budged in the past decade while New York City saw 14 percent job growth and nationally jobs were up 5 percent.
Pokalsky said natural gas is a big market for the state as some power plants switch from coal to gas. The Business Council sees opportunities for companies that push projects that meet the state’s environmental criteria.
Local officials said one Trump plan could be costly to local taxpayers. The Affordable Care Act provides the county government with about $500,000.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo met with Trump on Wednesday and said repealing the Affordable Care Act without a replacement could cost the state $3.7 billion and leave 2.7 million people without health insurance.
