Paterson Still Pushing Property-Tax Cap, Opposes New Taxes
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- July
- 30
As Gov. Paterson called for cuts in state spending and a hiring freeze this morning, he still remained firm on pushing for a school-property-tax cap this year.
And he said he’s only going to seek to raise taxes as a “last resort” despite talk that he may give into Assembly Democrats and the Working Families Party and approve a tax on millionaires.
“We still want to help homeowners with a property-tax cap,” Paterson said at a news conference today. “The reason I’m avoiding (new) taxes is because I think taxes are addictive. And I think what happens is when you start taxing, people start thinking of ways to spend the money you taxed and never get to the debt that you are trying to address.”
Paterson denied that he will sell off state roadways and bridges, such as the state Thruway, to private investors.
But he said state lawmakers may have to make cuts to the pet projects in their districts.
“I would caution that when everyone runs to their favorite program and says it’s not on the table, well that is why we are in the situation we are now,” he said.
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on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 at 11:51 am by Joseph Spector.
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In the same way only Richard Nixon could go to (then-Red) China, and begin discussions AND be successful in opening trade to (now-just-regular) China, perhaps only Gov. Paterson may be successful in winning over both houses of legistalature to cutting spending (and therefore leveling state taxes).
After former Gov. Pataki unloosed the floodgates to state spending, and, with the enabling of the lazy state legislature, helped cause the “unfunded mandates” that strangle us New Yorkers to this day, it is a “good” Democrat who seeks to resolve the crisis.
Gov. Paterson is in the best possible position: he has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, if he balances the state budget and brings tax relief to New Yorkers.