Unshackle Upstate, a pro-taxpayer education and advocacy organization, has released its 2020 Advocacy Agenda.

The comprehensive document covers major policy areas including taxes, spending, health care, economic development, infrastructure, affordability and improving the state’s business climate.

The organization’s key priorities for the 2020 legislative session include:

¯ The rejection of an expanded prevailing wage mandate;

¯ Opposition to a single payer system;

¯ Blocking new mandates on employers;

¯ Investing in workforce development; and

¯ Strengthening Upstate’s voice in Albany.

“New York’s high tax burden, costly mandates and senseless regulations have driven out more than 1 million residents — many from Upstate — over the last decade. Without aggressive action from leaders in Albany, this unacceptable exodus from the Empire State will continue,” said Michael Kracker, executive director of Unshackle Upstate. “Our 2020 agenda shares a clear vision for Upstate’s future – reject anti-growth measures, stop nickel-and-diming hardworking families and improve the state’s harsh business climate. That’s what New York taxpayers and job creators need.”

Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau found that New York lost nearly 1.4 million residents to other states since 2010.

Those states, which include Florida, Texas and North Carolina, all have lower tax burdens and a better business climate than New York according to reports from Wallet Hub and the Tax Foundation, which both rank New York among the nation’s worst tax climates.

“While we’ve made some progress, like tackling New York’s property taxes with the 2-percent cap, other costly taxes continue to fuel the high cost of living across the state,” said Kracker. “As we enter a new decade, Albany has the opportunity to reverse course. 2020 must be the year that Albany stands up for overburdened taxpayers, and advances policies that get our economy moving, not our people.”