Skelos Wants To Bring Back Senate To Approve Tax Relief
Senate Majority Dean Skelos signaled today that he hopes to bring back the Senate this summer to approve some sort of property-tax relief program, which would include a tax cap.
Skelos confirmed what has been the growing sentiment among Senate Republicans that they need to pass a new property-tax relief measure before the November elections to save face with voters—even if it doesn’t go anywhere in the Democratic-controlled Assembly.
Republicans hold a tenuous 32-30 seat majority in the Senate.
“I think we’ll hopefully be back in the next few weeks,” Skelos said on Fred Dicker’s Albany radio show this morning. “But we have to look at a total real property-tax relief program, which has to include mandate relief to school districts and other types of ways to get property taxes down.
“I think a cap can be part of that solution, but we have to go even further. People want to do their property taxes reduced. They just don’t want to see an automatic 4 percent increase every year.”
Former Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno was reluctant to pass Gov. David Paterson’s property-tax cap proposal for fear of retaliation by powerful teachers’ union who oppose a cap. He sought a two-year sunset of the cap, which was rejected by Paterson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan.
But Skelos, some Republicans said, seems more poised to fall in line with Paterson’s plan, if for no other reason than to be able to blame Democrats during the election year for not also endorsing the governor’s cap.
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it is time that the taxpayers of new york stopped being
intimidated by “the powerful teachers union..they get
paid a healthy salary along with health benefits for
life…its time to cap property taxes..and that includes
school taxes.
About time Republicans started being Republicans again in this state! Get this done and let the chips fall. And be vociferous; keep the pressure on. Let Silver try to explain why he’s a captive of special interests and not representing the vast majority of the people in this state!
silver is a trial lawyer working for a major pi firm
while at the same time he votes on legislation that
affects trial lawyers…i have nothing against trial
lawyers..I don’t believe in feathering your own nest
as the leader of the assembly
I’ve got a proposal. Everybody move to Connecticut where taxes are less than 50% of good old NY.
But, do I have to root for the Red Sox? Other than that, I’m game.
Shelly Silver is apparently facing a big threat this
year because two ladies who allege they were sexually
harassed by an aid are campaigning against him
good riddens ..if they can pull it off
Here’s hoping they’re successful. He’s worse than useless not only because of his voting record and manipulation of the Assembly, but the way he handled these rape and harassment cases by subordinates was disgraceful.