The Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors Supports MTA Tax Repeal Legislation

Albany, NY- Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I –Shirley) announced that The Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors is supporting his MTA Payroll Tax Repeal legislation (S.5596/A.8193).

The Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors released the following statement:

The Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) strongly supports enactment of S. 5596/A.8193 sponsored by Senator Lee Zeldin and Assemblyman George Latimer, respectively.  This legislation would repeal the onerous and unfair Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) payroll tax which was enacted in 2009.

New York State is already one of the highest taxed states in the Union. New York has the highest property taxes, among the highest and most complicated state income taxes, and high state and local sales taxes. To compound the problem, the state Legislature and Governor Paterson enacted a surcharge on all payrolls, including public and non-profit payrolls, in the region served by the MTA. At a time of national recession and serious economic difficulty experienced by families and business, New York did the unimaginable: it enacted a new and unprecedented payroll tax in the downstate region served by the MTA.

During a time of record unemployment, New York enacted a tax on employment. It simply defies logic and common-sense to place burdensome financial exactions upon employers, like the businesses run by ABC members, and then expects employers to begin hiring.  In essence, the MTA payroll tax is a direct tax on employment and acts to discourage hiring.

ABC applauds Senator Zeldin and Assemblyman Latimer on their legislation and urge its passage during the 2011 session.

“New York State’s Builders and Contractors, like all small businesses in the 12 County MTA region have been deeply affected by the job-killing MTA Payroll Tax,” said Senator Zeldin.

“I thank the Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors for their support in helping to repeal this onerous tax.  They know that one of the best ways to improve our downstate economy is to get rid of this job-killing tax as soon as possible.”

The Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors support adds to a growing list of endorsements Senator Zeldin’s legislation has received in the past week since being announced. The Empire State Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors joins the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Business Council of New York State, Inc., the Conservative Party of New York State, The Long Island Business News, New York Farm Bureau, GrowPAC, Harry Wilson, Long Island Cares, Inc., The Long Island Business Council, The Hauppauge Industrial Association, and several Chambers of Commerce in supporting this legislation.