Assembly passes circuit breaker; Skelos stonewalls, Cantor celebrates
Via Liz,Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos has categorically ruled out tax increases on the super-rich to help balance the budget, relying instead on average New Yorkers to carry that burden.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has passed legislation incorporating the so-called circuit breaker, a prime objective of the Working Families Party, which is opposing the governor's plan of a tax cap. The legislation links property taxes to an owner's ability to pay. To that, via email, WFP's Dan Cantor said:
“Speaker Silver and members of the Assembly have offered a roadmap to solving the very real problem of property taxes that bear no relation to what working and middle class families can afford. They should be congratulated today for the triumph of common sense. The Assembly bill would provide real cuts in property taxes for working and retired families – paid for in a fiscally responsible way – while preserving our state’s commitment to quality public education.
“It’s time to let democracy work. It’s time the State Senate notices that more than 15,000 New Yorkers reached out to their legislators and the Governor to say that the so-called property tax cap is nothing more than an arbitrary restriction on local investment in public education that does nothing to address the property tax mess.”
I see competing one-house bills coming, what about you?
New York State Assembly | New York State Senate | Dan Cantor | Dean Skelos














Run on raising taxes
I think you got the phrasing right -- accusing Republicans of trying to balance "that burden" of the budget on "average New Yorkers." If Democrats in competitive districts hit that concept hard, we should be able to win over the so-called "Reagan Democrats" and throw Dean Skelos out of the power seat. I think that "competing one-house bills" are a great opening salvo. It's not enough to deride the other guy's ideas; you have to present ideas of your own. By passing the circuit breaker and pushing the "millionaire's tax," Democrats are doing just that.
Pity that congressional Democrats aren't just as willing to stand up for Democratic principles.