Molinaro’s ‘scaffold’ $avings

New York could shave billions of dollars in bloated construction costs by overhauling a single antiquated law, according to GOP gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro.

The so-called Scaffold Law holds developers and contractors 100 percent liable for accidents on their sites — even if caused by workers’ negligence.

As a result of the added insurance costs, bids on government projects come in 10 percent to 15 percent higher than elsewhere, critics say.

Molinaro would apportion responsibility where it belongs on a case-by-case basis.

“There are two ways to run a state: the smart way and the New York way,” Molinaro said. “The New York way, personified in Andrew Cuomo’s failures, involves corruption, arcane work rules that benefit political interests, and massive cost overruns for beleaguered taxpayers. There’s a reason it costs seven times more to lay a mile of subway rail in New York than anywhere else.”

Molinaro said reforms would slash “$7 billion dollars” from the MTA’s capital construction plan.

Gov. Cuomo has said he’s “open” to changing the law but nothing has happened on his watch amid strong opposition from construction unions and trial lawyers.

One MTA board member is urging the governor and the Legislature to make reform a priority.

“We’re the only state in the union that has such a law,” said Mitch Pally, the MTA board member from Suffolk County. “The cost of insurance is higher in New York than any other place because of the Scaffold Law. The bids on projects are higher because the contractor wants to make sure all costs are included. You can lower the bid price and lower the cost to the MTA, the Thruway Authority and the schools.”