“New taxes to to support record aid” Despite Paterson’s warnings of limited aid and the need for cuts, Tom Precious reports that “(l)egislators and the Paterson administration are not looking to reduce spending levels from last year. Instead, negotiators appear willing to fund at lower levels than former Gov…Spitzer proposed two months ago…”

So, they aren’t really cutting anything of substance, and will in fact be raising taxes and fees. It will be slightly less spwnding than what Client 9 wanted, but still a record (it is, after all, an election year for the legislature). So, as the economy continues its slide, the Excelsior State will continue to believe it can tax itself into prosperity. Do I tell my kids to flee now?

This story, of course, was sandwiched between the one about Spitzer lying in regard to Troopergate (I’m shocked, I tell you), and the article outlining the anger of the parents of the young lad who was allegedly fondled by a school aid, only to have the illustrious Buffalo school superintendent claim that he never read a certified letter … that he signed for … from the teacher who claimed to have witnessed that act.

Thank god for the distraction of sports and the Sabres’ run to the playo…um, never mind.

Hope my comment was clear that I wanted those ideas and I joined the 30% voting for the candidate who proposed in detail what BP’s post above is now calling for. But the 70% of NYS voters who preferred Spitzer seemed to have different ideas or different priorities.

What’s next–NYS voters ask to be taxed MORE?

That’s exactly what most NYS voters are asking for, 72% of them, says a statewide poll last week:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03252008/news/regionalnews/ny_voters_back_rich_tax_103424.htm

NY VOTERS BACK ‘RICH’ TAX By FREDRIC U. DICKER

March 25, 2008 — ALBANY - Tax the rich! That was the word yesterday from an overwhelming 72 percent of New York voters, including 60 percent of Republicans, who say they favor a Democratic plan to raise the personal income tax on millionaires.

A new Siena College poll found support for the proposal by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, which would add an extra 1 percentage point to the income taxes of those making more than $1 million annually, and raise some $1.5 billion a year. …

Not a coincidence the 72% favoring income tax hikes on the job-creating class is so close to the 70% vote Spitzer received in 2006. Yesterday’s budget agreement among Paterson-Silver-Bruno reportedly doesn’t include an income tax hike, but it’s interesting to see how much widespread popularity that idea had among voters here.

A spending freeze, a 50% Tax cut, these are things NYS voters want to hear?

Businesses (those that are left) considering leaving could hear

“eliminate taxes on capital gains and dividend income,”

What’s next–NYS voters ask to be taxed MORE? Self Flagellation in the streets? Dogs and cats, living together? 40 days of darkness?

NYS is a reformer’s paradise—it’s SO fucked up it can’t really get much worse—no place to go but up.

If the tax burden isn’t lightened, the Authority System smashed, and
the UNNNNIIIOOONS told to go fuck themselves, it will be like the 3 young toughs looking at a drunk passed out in the street—
One kid says “let’s roll him” another says”Nothing to roll, looks like he drank it all”, the 3rd kicks the drunk and pisses on him. Then all 3 walk away.

The best revenue-raiser would be to halt the unfunded mandates, lower taxes and fees everywhere, and make the region far more economically attractive than it is now.

That wisdom sounds to me a LOT like the John Faso platform in 2006 and much at all like whatever little tweaks the other guy was promising.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/22/nyregion/22gov.html

Faso Unveils New Tax Plans With Cuts of $11 Billion

BOLTON LANDING, N.Y., Sept. 21 — John Faso, the Republican candidate for governor, laid out an $11 billion tax cut plan Thursday that he said would reduce income taxes across the board and eliminate taxes on capital gains and dividend income, as well as taxes on new capital investment in the state.

He also said he would seek to freeze state spending in his first year in office and after that would not accept spending increases exceeding the rate of inflation.

…“The public is demanding change,” Mr. Faso said. “The situation of upstate cities is dire. They are in a fiscal death spiral because the private sector is not able to keep up with the rising cost of government.” …

Mr. Faso is proposing to eliminate income taxes entirely for married couples earning up to $50,000 and for individuals earning up to $25,000; he would adjust tax brackets for the effect of inflation each year, reduce the number of brackets to four from five, eliminate taxes on capital gains and dividend income, and eliminate what is known as the rate recapture, which requires the wealthy to pay the highest rate on all their income.

He also proposes to cut income taxes for everyone, reducing the highest rate to 6.25 percent for married couples with incomes of $80,000 or more, from 6.85 percent for married couples with incomes of $40,000 or more. His campaign said a married couple earning $90,000 would see their average income tax payment fall to $2,110 from $4,207.
…

Not the kinds of ideas most NY State voters want to hear of course, and we saw the results. Something like 70% to 30% in favor of passionately tweaking the status quo.