Independent Democratic Conference releases historic budget resolution

Will fight to continue Millionaires Tax, support Dreamers, protect immigrants, enact Raise the Age & back ethics reform in final budget

Albany, NY — For the first time ever, the growing eight-member Independent Democratic Conference, in existence for six years, released its own privileged one-house budget resolution on Wednesday to highlight key progressive policy issues its leader, Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), will advance during four-way budget negotiations with the Executive.

It will be voted on today.

While the Independent Democratic Conference agrees with a number of proposals put forth by the Executive, the Assembly and the Senate, the conference maintains its own positions on other key issues.

The IDC one-house supports:

• A commitment to Raising the Age
• The DREAM Act
• Supporting a rental subsidy increase to help New Yorkers avoid homelessness
• Creating the College STAR tax deduction of up to $2,500
• Establishing College Debt Freedom Accounts
• A $5 million Immigrant Defense Fund
• Ethics reform, which would close the LLC loophole
• $71.6 million in funding for the New York Health Exchange
• Continuation of the Millionaires Tax
• Closing the Carried Interest Loophole
• Eliminating personal income tax for New York City residents earning $45,000 or less
• Made by New Yorkers, which includes Buy American provisions
• Funding a memorial to commemorate LGBT victims of the Orlando terrorist attack

“The state’s budget is due on April 1 and members of the IDC are committed to ensuring that the final document addresses the concerns of our constituents and all New Yorkers. We are committed to advance progressive issues and this is the logical step for a conference that’s growing in size. Our one-house sets a clear slate of positions that will serve as a foundation during four-way negotiations during the budget debate,” said Senator Klein.

The IDC’s one-house includes signature issues laid out in the conference’s Changing New York agenda, including Raise the Age, College Affordability for All—regardless of immigration status – and an immigrant defense fund which the conference released in January.

A copy of the IDC one-house is attached above.