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Cuomo says no tax hikes; will cut schools, health
Last Updated: 6:47 PM, November 9, 2010
Posted: 6:47 PM, November 9, 2010

Democratic Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday he would refuse to raise taxes to cover the state's budget shortfall and would seek cuts to politically popular programs like education and health care instead.

"Where do you cut the money? You're going to cut funds where you spend them," Cuomo said. "You have no economic future if New York is the tax capital of the nation. To raise taxes to raise more revenue is not the answer."

Cuomo, the state attorney general, and outgoing Gov. David Paterson spoke to reporters after their first sit-down meeting since Cuomo defeated Republican Carl Paladino in last week's midterm elections. Paterson praised Cuomo for being "forthright" in explaining to voters the dire state of New York's economy and budget challenges, even though Cuomo has yet to lay out specifics on how he would solve those problems once in office.

Throughout the campaign, Cuomo insisted he wouldn't raise New York's taxes, already among the highest in the nation, despite a projected $9 billion budget shortfall. He said to do so would thwart business and job creation and drive residents out of the state.

Cuomo reiterated the point Tuesday, saying even New York's wealthiest residents pay plenty of taxes and might leave if pressed for more.

"We have no problem telling rich people they have to pay taxes. We do it extraordinarily well, we do it better than almost any state in the nation," Cuomo said. "At what point do the rich people say, 'I'm moving.' That's the question."......................>>>>..................>>>>....................http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/cuomo_says_no_tax_hikes_will_cut_eCdrDIkRrwyGWaFnMr9rGN

There are many things on Medicaid that probably should not be paid for at the taxpayers expense.  As far as the schools, this is just a game of three-card monty.  He will reduce the money from the state to help schools, which means people will be upset when their actual school tax bill comes and it goes through the roof, since they aren't paying it to the state to be handed to the school, it will instead be paid directly to the school.  I guess it's a way to get at least one middle man with his hand out of this cookie jar.