On a regular basis, residents of the Mohawk Valley and North Country carefully craft responsible budgets for their families. Lawmakers in Albany, however, aren’t nearly as vigilant when it comes to spending the hard-earned dollars of working-class New Yorkers. The middle class was hit hardest by the recession, which still impacts lives today. Dollars just […]
On a regular basis, residents of the Mohawk Valley and North Country carefully craft responsible budgets for their families. Lawmakers in Albany, however, aren’t nearly as vigilant when it comes to spending the hard-earned dollars of working-class New Yorkers.
The middle class was hit hardest by the recession, which still impacts lives today. Dollars just don’t stretch as far as they used to.
Recently, the New York Senate Republicans unveiled a seven-year tax relief proposal that would reduce middle-class taxes by 25 percent, saving New Yorkers $3.5 billion. Annually, about 8 million households could expect nearly $900 in savings. I would like to review their plan more carefully, but I applaud their efforts and encourage Assembly Democrats to adopt similar or even stronger tax-relief measures. I have always fought to put more money back into the pockets of the working class.
Last year, two of New York’s top legislative leaders were convicted of corruption, the Empire State had among the highest taxes in the nation, and it ranked dead last on almost every business climate and economic ranking in the country. Assembly Democrats, meanwhile, have not taken any steps to fix these deeply-rooted problems. Instead they block efforts to pass ethics reforms, and instead fight for free college tuition for illegal immigrants and incarcerated criminals, wage a war on successful New Yorkers by increasing their taxes, and call for an aggressive 67 percent minimum-wage increase. This wage increase, according to the Empire Center, could cost the state a minimum of 200,000 jobs statewide.
There is a serious disconnect between New York City priorities and upstate New York values. I believe New Yorkers should be able to keep more of their hard-earned dollars. Additionally, we must support small businesses by creating a friendlier business and economic climate.
I encourage my Assembly colleagues to evaluate their policies and how they will hurt upstate New York residents and businesses, and adopt measures that will help families, seniors, and mom-and-pop job creators. Now is the time to make our state more affordable for residents and business owners alike. I hope my legislative colleagues do not squander the opportunity.
Marc W. Butler (R,C,I–Newport) is a New York State Assemblyman for the 118th District, which encompasses parts of Oneida, Herkimer, and St. Lawrence counties, as well as all of Hamilton and Fulton counties. Contact him at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us
