THIS WEEK IN ALBANY

Governor Cuomo Announces Members of SAGE Commission

Governor Cuomo appointed members to the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission. The SAGE Commission will conduct a review of state government and seek ways to reduce the number of agencies, public authorities and commissions by 20 percent.

Please click here for a list of the appointed members.

Office of Court Administration Confirms Layoffs

Officials of the State Office of the Court Administration confirmed layoffs of 58 full-time and 16 temporary employees. Further layoffs are expected to deal with the $170 million cut from the courts' budget that was approved in this year’s budget.

Taxes Go Down While CEO Pay Goes Up

For most Americans, taxes were due this past week. Many of the country’s wealthiest say that taxes are higher than ever. However, the facts tell a different story. In fact, General Electric did not even pay a dime in taxes this year.

In 1961: 43.1: Percent of income that Americans earning $1 million paid in taxes. (adjusted for 2011 dollars)

In 2011: 23.1: Percent of income that Americans earning $1 million are likely to pay in taxes, estimated from latest IRS data.

In 1961: 47.4: Percent of profits corporations paid in taxes.

In 2011: 11.1: Percent of profits corporations paid in taxes.

This is at the same time when an AFL-CIO report shows the CEOs at 299 U.S. companies earned a staggering $3.4 billion combined in executive compensation in 2010, a 23 percent increase from the prior year. Nearly 190 of those chief executives got a pay raise compared to their 2009 levels.

As Governor Cuomo and other public employers continue to target public employees for wage freezes and other concessions, those at the top continue to get wealthier. Governor Cuomo even gave a tax break to the wealthiest New Yorkers by refusing to extend the millionaire’s tax. Even though the millionaire’s tax was not included in the enacted budget, we are continuing our efforts. Please continue to lobby your state senator and assembly member for passage of this needed revenue.