Lobbyists are one of our industry's tools for protecting your interests in the State Capitol. Every year thousands of bills are introduced in the New York Legislature. Many of these affect how business conducts itself. Some can be directly targeted at our industry.

Lobbyists review each bill that is introduced and every amendment to each bill, and forward to the association bills that may be of interest to the industry. If the association needs clarification as to what a bill will do, the lobbyist goes to work by contacting the author's office, the committee consultant, and/or the sponsor.

If it is determined that the bill will hurt the industry, the lobbyist goes to work to either defeat the bill or to have it amended. This requires lobbying the author and members of the Legislature, working with the author's staff and committee consultant, negotiation with other interested groups, and working with the association to coordinate effective grassroots lobbying, if necessary.

The lobbyist must also monitor the budget process and lobby to protect the industry from additional fees and taxes. Lastly, if the industry needs a change in the law, the lobbyist attempts to obtain an author for a bill and lobbies it through the legislative process.

The lobbyist must know the process, know who to contact, and have credibility in the legislative community. Like any other endeavor, it is essential to have someone who has the expertise to get the job done.

The New York Staffing Association(NYSA) currently utilizes Peter Crouse of Davidoff, Malito and Hutcher LLP as its lobbyist.  Peter R. Crouse, Albany Director of Government Relations for Davidoff Malito & Hutcher LLP, served for ten years on the staff of the New York State Senate. During his tenure with the Senate, he served as a Senior Budget Analyst for the powerful Senate Finance Committee and as Executive Director of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, where he had primary responsibility for the review and recommendation of all environmental, natural resource and parkland legislation. Mr. Crouse also serves as Chairman of Green Thumb Environmental Beautification Inc., a non-profit organization providing employment opportunities for senior citizens. At the local government level, Mr. Crouse serves as a board member on the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Town of Colonie. Mr. Crouse holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and is celebrating his eighteenth year of lobbying in Albany.