Paterson criticizes Legislature over tax cap inaction
June 12, 2008
Gov. David Paterson on Wednesday criticized the Legislature for rejecting “out of hand” his proposal to cap the growth in nation’s highest property taxes despite overwhelming public support.
He also said he may call the Legislature back to Albany before the fall legislative elections. That would put lawmakers on the spot with voters, as well as with teachers’ unions and other labor and school interests that contribute to lawmakers’ campaigns and oppose limiting local school taxes.
The 2008 legislative session ends June 23 and the Assembly’s Democratic majority and the Senate’s Republican majority haven’t even introduced Paterson’s bill to a committee.
“It doesn’t bother me that they disagree with me and it doesn’t bother me that they want to voice their disagreement,” Paterson said of lawmakers. “This is what bothers me: So this is how we’re operating government now? We make a public announcement, no hearings, no deliberation, no discussion, no debate, and no alternative.”
Paterson told reporters to imagine the urgency if all 147,000 Syracuse residents decided they were fed up with high property taxes and moved out of state.
“It already happened,” Paterson said. “In 2006, the same number who live in the city of Syracuse moved out of state in that one year.
“People cannot take the quality of life here and what I want those people who moved and those who have stayed to know is that I have a proposal. I’m willing to debate and discuss it. And if no one else is, that speaks for itself.”
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Manhattan Democrat, says the tax cap is itself too limiting a solution.
“If you cap property taxes, you cap educating students,” he said.
Instead, he said many other elements are needed, including a commitment for the state to spend more on school aid to make up the difference.
Paterson, however, said the cap is needed first, followed by several measures including those that would lower some state-mandated costs for schools.
“I think you have a comprehensive problem that just can’t be dealt with simplistically,” Silver said in an interview. “I’m for capping property taxes, but how do we guarantee a quality education for the children?”
Silver said he’s unsure when the Assembly could consider the tax cap or related proposals, or even if it would be before the next session beginning in January 2009.
“We’re responding to the governor,” Silver said.
Paterson said the tax cap must happen fast and first, followed by the other measures. Asked if he would call the Legislature back to Albany before the fall elections, putting them on the spot with voters as well as their campaign contributors in organized labor, Paterson said:
“What I’m saying is that even when I discussed that, it was met with a kind of resentment, sort of, `How dare you?”‘ Paterson said. “My point about this is, what other choice would I have when an issue that three-quarters of the state’s population are in favor of appears to be rejected out of hand.”
Source: AP
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