Metro

New anti-Dem group would mean business

Some top New York City business lead ers, fearful that the leftist Working Families Party has brought the state the most anti-business government ever, are considering the formation of a “527” organization to back pro-business political candidates, The Post has learned.

The new organization — which would be empowered by the US Supreme Court’s controversial 5-4 “Citizens United” ruling in June, which gave corporations the green light to run “issues advertising” targeting specific candidates on TV and radio — would initially focus on state Senate races in hopes of seeing the Legislature’s upper house return to Republican control, said a source familiar with the planning for the group.

“If the Republicans don’t recapture the Senate this year, it will be all over with the Legislature as far as the business community is concerned,” the source said. “No election has been more vital in modern times.

“There is unrelenting hostility to the business community from the Democrats, and if they continue to control the Legislature, the only hope for the business community will be the ability of the governor to stop the damage that they do.”

A new 527-type group — the number refers to a section of the federal tax code — would be able to raise money from business organizations and pour the funding into “issues ads” that would attack specific candidates as anti-business, without the funding being counted as a contribution to the opposing candidate.

“At least” $1 million is expected to be raised for that purpose, the source said.

Several political operatives have also been consulted about the project, it was learned.

Among several “marginal” or vulnerable Senate Democrats expected to be targeted are Suffolk County Sen. Brian Foley and Buffalo Sen. William Stachowski, both of whom polls show are vulnerable.

Democrats took control of the Senate last year with strong backing from the WFP, but hold only a one-vote majority. Whoever controls the Senate next year will play a key role in overseeing legislative redistricting, and Senate President Malcolm Smith (D-Queens) has vowed to redraw the district lines to wipe out the GOP.

The business leaders represent several key New York City industries, including banking and real estate.

A final decision on forming the political group is expected to be made by the middle of August.

“I’d say the chances are 50-50 that it happens,” the source said.

Some business leaders are nervous about forming the group, fearing retaliation from Democrats.

The statewide Business Council, which former Gov. George Pataki blamed for abandoning his early efforts to stand up to the state’s powerful labor unions, was cited as especially reluctant to participate.

“The Business Council has no backbone; they’re a bunch of wusses,” the source said.

The controversial WFP, which is under investigation for possible violations of the New York City campaign-finance law, was founded nearly a decade ago by left-wing labor unions and political activists, and has emerged as a potent force in helping Democratic candidates.

Its unabashed support for higher taxes and expanded state spending has made it a symbol to the business community of New York’s notorious hostility to the private sector, which has led the state to be viewed as the most unfriendly to business in the nation.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic candidate for governor who has outlined a strongly pro-business platform, has so far refused to accept the endorsement of the WFP.

fredric.dicker@nypost.com