A Message About The State Budget

Recently, Governor Paterson announced after a private meeting with the Democratic leaders of the Senate and the Assembly that the repeal of sales tax increases on clothing was “on the table”.  This latest tax increase would remove the ability of our residents to purchase clothing items under $110 without paying state sales tax which has been the law since initiated under the Republican majority in the Senate to help everyone afford the necessities their family needs.

Governor David Paterson, Senate Majority Leader John Sampson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are discussing this idea behind closed doors without any public input and that is the wrong approach.  They are avoiding the public hearings that the residents of this state deserve and making decisions that will cost our taxpayers more of their hard earned money.

This is instead of making needed cuts to their uncontrollable spending and is destined to be a repeat of last year when their tax and fee increases cost families across our state more than $8.5 billion.  Following last year’s the imposition of the MTA Payroll tax, higher DMV fees and other harmful increases, our residents are already paying enough.  This latest budget fiasco will only take more money out of the pockets of Long Island families and enough is enough.

It is time that the leaders in Albany make the hard choices needed to protect our taxpayers and alter their approach.  I remain 100% opposed to any new tax and fee increases and hope everyone will join me in letting them know they feel the same way by visiting my web site by clicking here.

                                                                                                             Sincerely yours, 

                                                                                                             John Flanagan

P.S. For more information on the budget battle, please click here to view a video update from Albany.