SENATOR BRUNO ON TAXES: "NOT A PENNY MORE"

Statement from Senator Bruno on the Executive Budget Proposal

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Senator Bruno holds up a penny to the press as he explains that this year's budget should take not a penny more in taxes and it must return as many tax dollars as possible from the hardworking taxpayers of New York.">

As we begin to discuss and negotiate the next State budget, there is simply no greater need than to cut taxes. With a $2.7 billion surplus, we have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to return money back to the hardworking, overburdened taxpayers of New York and to help protect and create jobs. Government should collect only the taxes it needs and not a penny more. That�s why the Senate is committed to pushing for tax cuts, opposing tax increases, strengthening accountability and getting results.

I�m very pleased that Governor Pataki has proposed a budget that would accomplish the goal of reducing the burden of State taxes, especially property taxes. Earlier this year, the Senate put forward a multi-billion dollar property tax rebate plan and the Executive Budget includes a plan very similar to the Senate plan, which would send direct property tax rebate checks to every taxpayer eligible for the STAR property tax reduction program.

For the past 11 years, the Senate has also focused on reducing business taxes to make businesses in New York more competitive and to help protect and create jobs. Every dollar a business saves in taxes, especially small businesses, is a dollar that can be invested in a new employee or put back into the business to make it more successful. The Governor�s proposed business tax cuts will help strengthen our economy and help provide new opportunities for job creation and retention so our children can have the career they want in New York State.

The proposed budget also includes the Senate�s plan to combat Medicaid fraud and improve accountability in the Medicaid system. Medicaid fraud hurts every single taxpayer and takes resources away from the truly needy. We must do everything we can to end Medicaid fraud and abuse.

The Senate will also continue our commitment to investing in our schools and providing our children with the resources they need to get the best possible education. We cannot pinch pennies when it comes to education, but we can make sure that as many of our tax dollars as possible go into the classroom.

The budget process this year must be open, transparent, public and accountable. We must have public leaders meetings that helped result in an on time budget last year, and, for the first time, we will show these meetings on television throughout the State. A public budget process will ensure accountability and help ensure another on time budget that meets the needs of the people of this State, maintains our commitments to things like education, health care, economic development, transportation and public protection. It must be a budget that takes not a penny more from the hardworking taxpayers of New York to keep these commitments. And it must return as many tax dollars as possible to the taxpayers.

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