CAPITOL Assembly GOP urges $2.6B in annual tax relief Plan repackages previously introduced bills BY BOB CONNER Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Bob Conner at 462-2499 or bconner@dailygazette.net.
Assembly Republicans proposed $2.6 billion in annual tax relief Monday on New York’s “Tax Freedom Day,” meaning the date when the average person has earned enough to pay his taxes for the year. The Republican plan is a repackaging of previously introduced legislation. It calls for a 4 percent cap on school property tax increases, a state takeover of local Medicaid costs, a “summertime holiday” from gas taxes, and expanded incometax credits for child care and dependents, along with a new $1,000 personal exemption. “We need tax relief, “said Rotterdam resident Lorie Ruth at a news conference in the Parlor of the Assembly. “If we don’t get it,” she continued, “I don’t know that people are going to be able to stay.” Ruth said she was referring to her teenage daughter, and wants her to be able to find work in this state when she graduates from college. And Ruth said she also needs tax relief so she can pay for those college costs. Assemblyman Peter Lopez, RSchoharie, said, “People are struggling,” and so are the businesses that employ them. Asked how he proposed to make up for the lost revenue, given the state’s projected budget deficits, Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, said he supports Gov. David Paterson’s proposal to make future cuts in the state budget. He declined to cite specific examples, saying he expects to be discussing them with Paterson and other state leaders after the governor has consulted with the heads of state agencies. Tedisco said the proposed tax cuts could be phased in, to reduce the immediate hit on the budget. Paterson had talked of cutting up to 10 percent from next year’s state budget, but his spokesman later said he is not in fact going to propose that severe a cut. Tedisco, however, sounded ready to cut 10 percent. In response to a question about energy policy, Tedisco drew distinctions between Assembly Republicans and Democrats, saying he supports clean coal and nuclear power, and favors passage of a bill making it easier to site power plants. He also took a shot at Paul Tonko, the former head of the Assembly Energy Committee and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, who is preparing to run for Congress to succeed U.S. Rep. Michael Mc-Nulty, D-Green Island. Tedisco said that if Tonko “does for the federal government what he did for New York state, it’ll cost you $5 for a pound of air in a bicycle tire soon.” Tonko said the issue needs to be addressed at the federal level, where the absence of a sound comprehensive policy has helped drive up gas prices and diminish U.S. energy security and independence. Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari, D-Cohoes, said of Tedisco’s remark: “It’s a cheap shot. It just detracts from his own message.” Canestrari also said that “Jim [Tedisco] and the Republicans are very good at holding press conferences. They punch the right buttons.” He said governing is more difficult. Last week, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, blasted Republican proposals to cut gasoline taxes, saying there is no guarantee the savings would be passed on to the consumer, and the state cannot afford to give up the revenue. Paterson, in more measured language, made similar criticisms of the gas tax proposal. Tedisco said that and other tax cuts would provide necessary economic stimulus, thus generating some tax revenue.
Asked how he proposed to make up for the lost revenue, given the state’s projected budget deficits, Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, said he supports Gov. David Paterson’s proposal to make future cuts in the state budget. He declined to cite specific examples, saying he expects to be discussing them with Paterson and other state leaders after the governor has consulted with the heads of state agencies. Tedisco said the proposed tax cuts could be phased in, to reduce the immediate hit on the budget.
Cut spending!! What a concept. NYS government is just way too big. They need to cut all of the unnecessary pork that goes to their favorite Little League or favorite non-profit organization. That is clearly NOT the role of government.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
And don't forget, now that you're "free from taxes," we can now work on "Fee Freedom Day," unless, that is, you live out in the woods and don't use any power through National Grid...
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