Changes

His support for pro-agricultural legislation, including creation of measures to establish a $30 million Dairy Assistance Program, as well as providing financial assistance to counties for farmland protection and for the construction of greenmarkets, among others, earned him an award from the [http://www.nyfb.org/ New York Farm Bureau].<ref>"[http://www.nyfb.org/nyfbnews/2007/pr091107.htm New York Farm Bureau names 'Circle of Friends' in the State Legislature]". [http://www.nyfb.org/ New York Farm Bureau]. September 11, 2007. Retrieved on February 24, 2008.</ref> Ball was also named as the [[National Rifle Association|New York State Rifle & Pistol Association]] "Assemblyman of the Year" for his dedication toward advocating for outdoor sports and sportsmen’s rights.<ref name="vol1iss3"/> He has also been involved in the fight to keep [[Pepsi Bottling Group]] in his district, after the company, which is [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County's]] second-largest employer announced it was considering relocating out of his district due to the tax burden it faces.<ref>Dumas, Bob. "[http://www.northcountynews.com/Apps/FullSize.aspx?articleid=3488 Officials scramble to keep Pepsi in Somers]". ''[http://www.northcountynews.com North County News]''. January 23, 2008.</ref><ref name="pepsi1">Driscoll, Eugene. "[http://www.newstimes.com/ci_8249208?source=most_emailed Danbury trying to woo Pepsi]". ''[[Danbury News-Times]]''. February 13, 2008.</ref><ref>According to "[http://www.nystu.org/issues-facts.cfm Facts & Figures]" from the ''[[National Taxpayers Union|New York State Taxpayers Union]]'', New York's corporate tax structure is composed of a flat rate of 7.5% on all corporate income. Among states levying corporate income taxes, New York's rate ranks 21st highest. In 2004, New York's corporate tax collections were $106 per capita and ranked 14th highest nationally. New York also ranks 50th (worst) in the non-profit Tax Foundation's State Business Tax Climate Index. The Index compares the states in five areas of taxation that impact business: corporate taxes; individual income taxes; sales and gross receipts taxes; unemployment insurance taxes; and taxes on wealth, including residential and commercial property.</ref> He told reporters that "Westchester County has become a nightmare for not only business owners, but property owners, because of the tax burden", but that he was "cautiously optimistic" they would remain in their [[Somers, New York]] headquarters.<ref name="pepsi1"/>

His support for pro-agricultural legislation, including creation of measures to establish a $30 million Dairy Assistance Program, as well as providing financial assistance to counties for farmland protection and for the construction of greenmarkets, among others, earned him an award from the [http://www.nyfb.org/ New York Farm Bureau].<ref>"[http://www.nyfb.org/nyfbnews/2007/pr091107.htm New York Farm Bureau names 'Circle of Friends' in the State Legislature]". [http://www.nyfb.org/ New York Farm Bureau]. September 11, 2007. Retrieved on February 24, 2008.</ref> Ball was also named as the [[National Rifle Association|New York State Rifle & Pistol Association]] "Assemblyman of the Year" for his dedication toward advocating for outdoor sports and sportsmen’s rights.<ref name="vol1iss3"/> He has also been involved in the fight to keep [[Pepsi Bottling Group]] in his district, after the company, which is [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County's]] second-largest employer announced it was considering relocating out of his district due to the tax burden it faces.<ref>Dumas, Bob. "[http://www.northcountynews.com/Apps/FullSize.aspx?articleid=3488 Officials scramble to keep Pepsi in Somers]". ''[http://www.northcountynews.com North County News]''. January 23, 2008.</ref><ref name="pepsi1">Driscoll, Eugene. "[http://www.newstimes.com/ci_8249208?source=most_emailed Danbury trying to woo Pepsi]". ''[[Danbury News-Times]]''. February 13, 2008.</ref><ref>According to "[http://www.nystu.org/issues-facts.cfm Facts & Figures]" from the ''[[National Taxpayers Union|New York State Taxpayers Union]]'', New York's corporate tax structure is composed of a flat rate of 7.5% on all corporate income. Among states levying corporate income taxes, New York's rate ranks 21st highest. In 2004, New York's corporate tax collections were $106 per capita and ranked 14th highest nationally. New York also ranks 50th (worst) in the non-profit Tax Foundation's State Business Tax Climate Index. The Index compares the states in five areas of taxation that impact business: corporate taxes; individual income taxes; sales and gross receipts taxes; unemployment insurance taxes; and taxes on wealth, including residential and commercial property.</ref> He told reporters that "Westchester County has become a nightmare for not only business owners, but property owners, because of the tax burden", but that he was "cautiously optimistic" they would remain in their [[Somers, New York]] headquarters.<ref name="pepsi1"/>

According to ''[[The Journal News]]'', one key to Ball's success was that his campaign identified the concern local voters cared most about: illegal immigration.<ref name="west1">West, Debra. "[http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070812/OPINION/708120332/1151 The Greg Ball effect: An anti-illegal alien strategy takes root and thrives]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. August 12, 2007.</ref> He was joined by former [[INS]] agents in a rally protesting a proposed work shelter for illegal immigrations in the village of Brewster.<ref>Risinit, Mike. "[http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2007/06/26/just-say-no/ Just say no]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. June 26, 2007.</ref> Ball made illegal immigration a focal point of his bid for office.<ref name="feet"/> In October of 2007, he strongly criticized [[Eliot_spitzer#Controversy_over_driver.27s_licenses_for_illegal_immigrants|Governor Eliot Spitzer's plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants]].<ref>Blain, Glenn. "[http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2007/10/01/assembly-gop-takes-aim-at-spitzer-license-plan/ Assembly GOP takes aim at Spitzer license plan]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. October 1, 2007.</ref><ref>Barron, Sam. "[http://www.northcountynews.com/Apps/FullSize.aspx?articleid=2995 Ball strikes back, threatens to sue Governor Spitzer over drivers license policy]". ''[http://www.northcountynews.com North County News]''. October 3, 2007.</ref> An oft-quoted line from his campaign fliers was that "Illegal Immigration is Illegal".<ref>Applebome, Peter. "[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/nyregion/11towns.html?n=Top/News/New%20York%20and%20Region/Columns/Our%20Towns&pagewanted=all When an Election Becomes a Forum on Immigration]". ''[[New York Times]]''. November 11, 2007.</ref><ref>Risinit, Mike. "[http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007712130403 Assemblyman Ball discusses illegal immigration and public safety]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. December 13, 2007.</ref> He was named "Albany's most ardent supporter of legal immigration" when he was appointed State Chairman of the national immigration reform group [http://www.statelegislatorsforlegalimmigration.com/ State Legislators for Legal Immigration].<ref>"[http://www.assemblymangball.com/BlogEntry.aspx?entryID=83 Ball Named States Chairman of National Legal Immigration Group]". ''[http://www.assemblymanball.com Ball for Assembly]''. Retrieved on February 24, 2008.</ref><ref>Rae, Leah. "[http://immigration.lohudblogs.com/2008/02/14/greg-ball-joins-national-lawmakers-against-alien-invasion/ Greg Ball joins national lawmakers against alien ‘invasion’]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. February 14, 2008.</ref> Yet Ball declined to speak at an anti illegal-immigration forum in [[Danbury, Connecticut|Danbury]], [[Connecticut]] sponsored by [http://www.uscfile.org/ United States Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement], calling the group's rhetoric "over the top."<ref>Homayonpour, Marietta. "[http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:W2k7P7nKUDEJ:www.newstimes.com/ci_7848096%3Fsource%25253Dmost_emailed.26978592730A3B8C7F471EACE0DA4EF2.html+site:newstimes.com+%22Immigration+Law+Enforcement%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us Should Danbury partner with ICE?]". ''[[Danbury News-Times]]''. December 31, 2007.</ref><ref>Risinit, Mike. "[http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2007/04/30/not-visiting-connecticut/ Not visiting Connecticut]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. April 30, 2007.</ref>

According to ''[[The Journal News]]'', one key to Ball's success was that his campaign identified the concern local voters cared most about: illegal immigration.<ref name="west1">West, Debra. "[http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070812/OPINION/708120332/1151 The Greg Ball effect: An anti-illegal alien strategy takes root and thrives]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. August 12, 2007.</ref> He was joined by former [[INS]] agents in a rally protesting a proposed work shelter for illegal immigrations in the village of Brewster.<ref>Risinit, Mike. "[http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2007/06/26/just-say-no/ Just say no]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. June 26, 2007.</ref> Ball made illegal immigration a focal point of his bid for office.<ref name="feet"/> In October of 2007, he strongly criticized Governor Eliot Spitzer's plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.<ref>Blain, Glenn. "[http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2007/10/01/assembly-gop-takes-aim-at-spitzer-license-plan/ Assembly GOP takes aim at Spitzer license plan]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. October 1, 2007.</ref><ref>Barron, Sam. "[http://www.northcountynews.com/Apps/FullSize.aspx?articleid=2995 Ball strikes back, threatens to sue Governor Spitzer over drivers license policy]". ''[http://www.northcountynews.com North County News]''. October 3, 2007.</ref> An oft-quoted line from his campaign fliers was that "Illegal Immigration is Illegal".<ref>Applebome, Peter. "[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/nyregion/11towns.html?n=Top/News/New%20York%20and%20Region/Columns/Our%20Towns&pagewanted=all When an Election Becomes a Forum on Immigration]". ''[[New York Times]]''. November 11, 2007.</ref><ref>Risinit, Mike. "[http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007712130403 Assemblyman Ball discusses illegal immigration and public safety]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. December 13, 2007.</ref> He was named "Albany's most ardent supporter of legal immigration" when he was appointed State Chairman of the national immigration reform group [http://www.statelegislatorsforlegalimmigration.com/ State Legislators for Legal Immigration].<ref>"[http://www.assemblymangball.com/BlogEntry.aspx?entryID=83 Ball Named States Chairman of National Legal Immigration Group]". ''[http://www.assemblymanball.com Ball for Assembly]''. Retrieved on February 24, 2008.</ref><ref>Rae, Leah. "[http://immigration.lohudblogs.com/2008/02/14/greg-ball-joins-national-lawmakers-against-alien-invasion/ Greg Ball joins national lawmakers against alien ‘invasion’]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. February 14, 2008.</ref> Yet Ball declined to speak at an anti illegal-immigration forum in [[Danbury, Connecticut|Danbury]], [[Connecticut]] sponsored by [http://www.uscfile.org/ United States Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement], calling the group's rhetoric "over the top."<ref>Homayonpour, Marietta. "[http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:W2k7P7nKUDEJ:www.newstimes.com/ci_7848096%3Fsource%25253Dmost_emailed.26978592730A3B8C7F471EACE0DA4EF2.html+site:newstimes.com+%22Immigration+Law+Enforcement%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us Should Danbury partner with ICE?]". ''[[Danbury News-Times]]''. December 31, 2007.</ref><ref>Risinit, Mike. "[http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2007/04/30/not-visiting-connecticut/ Not visiting Connecticut]". ''[[The Journal News]]''. April 30, 2007.</ref>

In February of 2008, Ball hosted a summit on the [[Immigration and Nationality Act Section 287(g)]] program for law enforcement and elected officials from New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, co-hosted by co-hosted by Jim Pendergraph, U.S. [[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (ICE) Executive Director from the United States Department of Homeland Security Office of State and Local Coordination.<ref name="ice1"/><ref name="summit">Driscoll, Eugene. "[http://www.newstimes.com/ci_8249912?source=most_viewed N.Y. lawmaker wants ICE in jails]". ''[[Danbury News-Times]]''. February 13, 2008.</ref> He talked at length about the measure [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVq_9x_FNLE during a Fox News interview] with [[Neil Cavuto]].<ref>{{cite episode

In February of 2008, Ball hosted a summit on the [[Immigration and Nationality Act Section 287(g)]] program for law enforcement and elected officials from New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, co-hosted by co-hosted by Jim Pendergraph, U.S. [[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (ICE) Executive Director from the United States Department of Homeland Security Office of State and Local Coordination.<ref name="ice1"/><ref name="summit">Driscoll, Eugene. "[http://www.newstimes.com/ci_8249912?source=most_viewed N.Y. lawmaker wants ICE in jails]". ''[[Danbury News-Times]]''. February 13, 2008.</ref> He talked at length about the measure [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVq_9x_FNLE during a Fox News interview] with [[Neil Cavuto]].<ref>{{cite episode