Politics on the Hudson

House Speaker John Boehner named Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-Mount Kisco, to a committee that will try to resolve the differences over the payroll tax cut extension bill that passed the Senate in a heavily bipartisan vote but was rejected by the House this week.

“In the midst of a terrible economy, our hardworking families should not face increased taxes next year. House Republicans are determined to continue our work in Washington until we come to an agreement that lifts burdens for taxpayers while protecting the Social Security Trust Fund; continues help to our unemployed while assuring sound long-term reforms; and ensures seniors’ access to their doctors under Medicare. We call upon the Senate to join us in working toward a solution that offers long-term relief to struggling families and job creators,” Hayworth said in in a statement.

But with the Senate out of town already and the House adjourned for for the holidays, as USA Today reports, it’s not clear when lawmakers will take any action. The payroll tax cut is set to expire Dec. 31, resulting in the average worker paying $1,000 more next year in Social Security tax.

The Senate version called for a two-month extension; House Republicans wanted to pass a measure that extended the cut for all of 2012 instead of having to take up the matter again come February.

Hayworth, who is in her first term, took criticism yesterday from two Democrats who want to unseat her.

Richard Becker, a Cortlandt Democratic Town Board member who wants to unseat Rep. Nan Hayworth, R- Mount Kisco, next year faulted the congresswoman today for being among those who rejected a bill extending the payroll tax cut beyond Dec. 31. The measure recently passed the Senate.

“Today my opponent, Congresswoman Hayworth, voted in lock step with the Tea Party once again by voting to kill a bipartisan agreement to extend the payroll tax cut for the middle class and unemployment insurance – a bill that was overwhelmingly passed in the Senate by an 89 to 10 vote,” Becker said in an email.

The 229-193 vote in the House also called for setting up a negotiating committee so the House and Senate can develop mutually acceptable legislation. The Senate version called for a two-month extension, which many House Republicans said was an inadequate step. If an extension isn’t approved by the end of the year, the average worker is expected to pay about $1,000 more in taxes in 2012.

Matt Alexander, the mayor of Wappingers Falls and another Democrat vying to challenge Hayworth, this afternoon also criticized Hayworth’s vote. He pointed to a statement he made yesterday.

“ . . . The fact is Congresswoman Hayworth and her Tea Party caucus had an entire year to propose a solution, yet failed to do that. Instead, Nan blocked and opposed every single proposal to extend the payroll tax cut. Well, time’s up. You don’t get elected to lead Congress only to put the country in reverse.”

State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, made two appearances in the 40th state Senate District today. First, he stopped at the Mount Kisco train station to call for a forensic audit of the MTA—a request he has made several times—on the heels of the MTA payroll tax being mostly repealed.

“After years of leading the charge to repeal the MTA payroll tax, I am thrilled with the governor’s leadership on making this initial repeal a priority and reality,” said Senator Ball who spearheaded the bill (S50002) that currently repeals the job-killing MTA payroll tax for 80% of the businesses that pay it. That bill was successfully passed by the New York State Senate on December 9, 2011. “The repeal of the MTA payroll tax was just the first step, I will continue with my demands for forensic accounting to protect middle class, working families like mine who are struggling,” Ball said in a statement.

Then he headed to Patterson, where town officials were welcoming the reinstatement of an on-again, off-again, on-again grant to help pay for a new courthouse. Patterson officials had announced the money on Wednesday.

“The Town of Patterson received notice today that the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York ( DASNY) has approved its application for
$1,000,000. The funds will assist in the cost of construction of the $2.8 million Patterson Courthouse, which was completed earlier this year. The grant was initially secured by Vincent Leibell, and approved by the NYS Senate Finance Committee in 2008. Due to economic times and changes in
the political landscape this grant had been rescinded, or placed on hold several times. Each time the Town has pressed the State to restore the funding through the concerted efforts of Supervisor Michael Griffin, Councilman Kevin Burns and Town Planner Richard Williams,” according to a Patterson press release.

“Had these dollars been lost, the taxpayers of the Town of Patterson would have been forced to absorb this debt. It’s critically important that all levels of government work together to cut taxes and create jobs,” Ball said in a statement.

Within four minutes of each other last night, both Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-Mount Kisco, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent out dueling press releases on the House vote extending the Social Security payroll tax cut that will expire at year’s end. Hayworth was among the 234 representatives who voted in favor Tuesday night of a bill that extends the tax cut for one year but also pushes along the Keystone XL oil pipeline project that will run from Canada to Texas.

“Our hardworking families and taxpayers cannot be faced with further burdens this January.  That is why I joined colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support an extension of the payroll tax reduction and unemployment insurance in a responsible manner that protects the integrity of the Social Security trust fund and prevents more debt from being piled on future generations of taxpayers,” Hayworth said in a statement.

Democrats have opposed linking the two items, saying the pipeline project needs more environmental study. The House bill is expected to die in the Senate. By voting for a bill that is expected to go nowhere, the DCCC argued Hayworth is forcing a $1,000 tax hike on middle-class families. That’s the amount in additional taxes an average family is expected to pay in 2012 if the extension isn’t approved.

 

 

 

Democrat Justin Wagner, who wants to unseat Republican state Sen. Greg Ball in 2012, called for the state to keep a tax in place on those making more than $1 million a year. New York’s millionaires tax, which affects individuals who make more than $200,000 a year, is set to expire at year’s end.

“It is fundamentally unfair to cut taxes for millionaires and at the same time expect poor and middle class New Yorkers to do more with less. We cannot allow that to happen,” Wagner said in a statement

Wagner on Wednesday proposed allowing the tax to remain on those earning seven figures. Two-thirds of that revenue, he said, could be set aside and used for education funding. The money would be outside the usual budget process and available through an application process.

“The long-term solution to the problem of income inequality is an education system that prepares all of our children for the new economy, and the need to provide our children with a quality education is greater than ever.  The pace of economic and technological change requires a newfound commitment to education” Wagner said.

The rest of the money could be used to close the state’s budget gap.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has long said he’s opposed to letting the millionaires tax continue. But on Wednesday he spoke of possibly making changes to the tax code and, as my colleague Joseph Spector pointed out, that may include proposing higher taxes on the wealthy.

Justin Wagner, a Democrat who wants to unseat state Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, next year will unveil a plan Wednesday that prevent tax cuts for New Yorkers making more than $1 million a year. His policy announcement comes about a month before the state’s millionaires tax — which affects individuals who make more than $200,000 a year — is set to expire. Gov. Cuomo has opposed extending it, even as a poll last month showed most New Yorkers support it.

Wagner says his proposal will divert those tax revenues to education, which, he added, will make the choice one about cutting taxes for millionaires or funding education. He will detail his plan Wednesday at 3 p.m. at the Mount Kisco Library.

State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, will hold a “Storm Response Round Table” next week to talk about how the best storm and natural-disaster response can be provided “to our constituents and customers throughout the Hudson Valley Region.”

The gathering comes after the Hudson Valley suffered through a tropical storm and then an October nor’easter. Topics to be discussed, according to Ball, include:

•            Why do so many of our fellow neighbors lose electrical power in their homes and businesses during a natural disaster like a snow or rain storm?

•            What must be done to enable the homes and businesses in our region to retain electrical power during and after a natural disaster or storm?

•            How can we improve response times for service to constituents and customers from all government agencies and utility companies?

•            What can we learn from the October 30th Nor’easter and Hurricane Irene?

•            How can the local municipalities, utility companies, first responders and state officials work better together to ensure all residents are safe, and services are restored in a timely and efficient manner?

The round table will take place December 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Yorktown Town Hall.

State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, released the following letter thanking those who helped with his Thanksgiving dinner for veterans.

Thank you letter for Veterans Dinner

Matt Alexander, the mayor of Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County, announced today he is seeking to unseat Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-Mount Kisco. In a statement, Alexander, a CPA, said he planned to speak throughout the 19th Congressional District about the issues he thinks are important. Below is part of his announcement speech.

“Today, through my leadership, I’m proud to say Wappingers Falls is one of the fastest-growing communities in our state with an astonishing 17% growth rate in the past year alone. New businesses and jobs are arriving, crime is down and our services and infrastructure are strong, AND we’ve held the line on property taxes.

This turn-around took determined leadership, an unwavering focus on economic development and jobs. It was the commitment of government to act in times of difficulty and put people to work rebuilding the infrastructure that was critical to our economic success.

It took getting people from both parties to stop playing games and to put people above politics and start working together. It took the faith of the men and women in government as our partners working to turn our community around. A community came together to recapture its future.

This approach not only revived our community, but twice earned me the endorsements of the Democratic and Republican parties.

This same formula that worked for Wappingers Falls is what I intend to bring to Congress. I got into government to take on big challenges because I was sick and tired of being on the sidelines. My leadership turned Wappinger Falls around and with your support I’d like to do the same here throughout New York’s 19th Congressional District.” Alexander said.

Alexander is the second Democrat to announce a challenge to Hayworth, who is in her first term. He joins Dr. Richard Becker, a Cortlandt Town Board member, in trying to unseat the congresswoman.

State Sen. Greg Ball, R-Patterson, took his anti-fracking message to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s backyard today. Ball stopped in Mount Kisco to say Cuomo should tour Pennsylvania to see how hydrofracking has “ravaged” those communities. He called on the governor to take steps to protect New Yorkers from such dangers and tried to build support for his Property Owners Bill of Rights,  which would set new standards for hydrofracking — the controversial process of extracting natural gas from rock — in New York’s Southern Tier.

“Maybe Governor Cuomo is focused on being President Cuomo and feels compelled to befriend this powerful industry, but all I know is that I went to Pennsylvania and I truly believe if the governor did the same, he would put the brakes on his fracking express, taking time to get it right. Whether it be Dick Cheney’s ‘Halliburton Loophole’ or Governor Cuomo’s most recent expediting of a process for the convenience of billionaire gas execs, at the highest of levels this gas industry has undue influence. New York State should be leading the charge to regulate this industry, to protect private property owners, farmers, sportsman and our environment by learning from the devastation in other states. Instead the Governor is paving the way for fracking without installing necessary safeguards,” Ball said in a statement.