Madmallard
.223 Rem
You know New York’s future is grim when even Republicans refuse to push for meaningful relief for overwhelmed state taxpayers, even as federal reforms ratchet up the state’s tax bite.
On Tuesday, Senate Republicans — New York’s main hope for reining in tax-and-spend progressives — rolled out their ask for this year’s budget. Their plan, which promises tax relief, is titled “Making New York More Affordable.” But it might as well be called “Same Old, Same Old,” because few folks would see much savings.
Yes, GOP senators tout some decent ideas, like making the state’s 2 percent cap on property-tax hikes permanent and shaving taxes hidden in your electric bill.
But they’re seeking precious little, just $140 million (or 0.09 percent of the $164 billion budget), in relief this year.
And some of it is just fresh lipstick on old gimmicks: Property-tax rebate checks, for example, would grow 25 percent, with special benefits for seniors. Which sounds nice, but rebates don’t lower property taxes, which are among the nation’s highest; they merely shift the cost to others via the income tax.
There’s no talk of the bolder reforms that could mean meaningful relief — like scrapping the Triborough Amendment, which makes it easier for public unions to win fat raises, or the Wicks Law, which jacks up public construction costs.
Assembly Dems, of course, will only seek to make things worse: Speaker Carl Heastie already hinted at spending more on education and health care. (And it’s a safe bet he’ll soon be calling for tax hikes.) Nor does Gov. Cuomo, who’ll offer his budget Tuesday, show much interest in pushing tax relief.
But Senate GOPers (should) know better. They just need the spine to make it happen.
https://nypost.com/2018/01/10/the-spineless-republicans-of-new-york/
On Tuesday, Senate Republicans — New York’s main hope for reining in tax-and-spend progressives — rolled out their ask for this year’s budget. Their plan, which promises tax relief, is titled “Making New York More Affordable.” But it might as well be called “Same Old, Same Old,” because few folks would see much savings.
Yes, GOP senators tout some decent ideas, like making the state’s 2 percent cap on property-tax hikes permanent and shaving taxes hidden in your electric bill.
But they’re seeking precious little, just $140 million (or 0.09 percent of the $164 billion budget), in relief this year.
And some of it is just fresh lipstick on old gimmicks: Property-tax rebate checks, for example, would grow 25 percent, with special benefits for seniors. Which sounds nice, but rebates don’t lower property taxes, which are among the nation’s highest; they merely shift the cost to others via the income tax.
There’s no talk of the bolder reforms that could mean meaningful relief — like scrapping the Triborough Amendment, which makes it easier for public unions to win fat raises, or the Wicks Law, which jacks up public construction costs.
Assembly Dems, of course, will only seek to make things worse: Speaker Carl Heastie already hinted at spending more on education and health care. (And it’s a safe bet he’ll soon be calling for tax hikes.) Nor does Gov. Cuomo, who’ll offer his budget Tuesday, show much interest in pushing tax relief.
But Senate GOPers (should) know better. They just need the spine to make it happen.
https://nypost.com/2018/01/10/the-spineless-republicans-of-new-york/
