Gotham Gazette’s the Wonkster
12/5/11
David King
http://www.gothamgazette.com/blogs/wonkster/2011/12/05/groups-put-pressure-on-cuomos-tax-plan/
Progressive groups are trying to pressure Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislators into negotiating a tax code change that would make the wealthy pay much more than they do now and patch budget cuts. They say “revenue neutrality” for tax code reform is the wrong way to go. Cuomo’s recent op-edon tax code changes does not mention raising revenue–as the Daily News’ Bill Hammond pointed out and Liz Benjamin points out here.
“If Cuomo wants to stop being labeled Governor 1%, he needs to address the fact that the richest 1% are getting 34% of the state’s income. So far his tax proposals are all about political spin, not real reform for the 99%. Yes, tax reform must correct the fact that the janitor at Trump Tower is paying a higher percentage of state and low-income taxes than Donald Trump is. Our state tax system is one way we have shifted wealth to the rich. But it also must correct the budgetary shortfalls that undercuts investment in our infrastructure, kills jobs and undermines the safety net,” said Mark Dunlea, Executive Director of Hunger Action Network.
Karen Scharff of Citizen Action sent out an appeal to supporters to encourage them to keep calling legislators to push for a plan that would generate enough revenue to patch budget cuts. “With signals coming from the Capitol that there is movement on a large-scale change to New York State’s tax code, we need to make sure that it’s the right tax reform. Any tax code plan must include raising revenue to restore the worst budget cuts, and directly creating jobs. And we shouldn’t, especially with a budget deficit as big as it is, be giving even more tax breaks to corporations and the 1%.”
Some business groups and conservatives are pushing hard for Senate Republicans to stand against any tax increase.
