Statement: Cuomo’s Refusal to Expand Millionaires’ Tax is Not Progressive
Albany, NY – In response to Governor Cuomo’s comments that he doesn’t want to raise taxes on New York’s wealthiest residents and threatening to withhold legislators’ paychecks through pursuing budget extenders, Karen Scharff, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York, said:
“You can’t use Trump-style economic policy to counter the impact of Trump’s economic policy and expect everything to turn out OK.
“Trump is threatening health care, housing for the homeless, schools and more, but without being willing to raise taxes on the rich, Governor Cuomo is complicit in that threat. With New Yorkers facing underfunded schools, inadequate housing, insufficient services for immigrants and lack of other basic needs, it would be irresponsible to pass a state budget that fails to meet our needs.
“Governor Cuomo can’t be the progressive alternative to Donald Trump by refusing to raise taxes on millionaires and billionaires. The Assembly has provided a progressive path forward: expand the millionaires’ tax to boost our economy and make our communities stronger.”
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