CSEA NEWS UPDATE; VOICE REPORTER BACK IN BUSINESS

Millionaire’s Tax Legislation Introduced in Assembly

The battle over the millionaire’s tax was reinvigorated this week as Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver introduced a bill (A. 7802) that would extend the tax until the end of 2012. Silver’s bill would be a true millionaire’s tax, as it would only apply to those who earn over $1 million a year.

The tax would add billions of dollars in tax revenues for the state and help to restore some of the devastating cuts for mental health, health care, education, and programs for the elderly.

Please call the Governor and your state senator at 1-877-255-9417 and ask them to support the millionaire’s tax.

Press Reports on New Pension Tier

Less than two years after the creation of Tier V, it was reported this week that Governor Cuomo will propose yet another pension tier. According to reports, the new tier will increase the retirement age to 65, early retirement options will be eliminated, and new employees will pay twice as much toward their pensions. This new tier will not produce any immediate savings and will result in a less secure retirement.

President Danny Donohue responded to this attack by saying, “No one should believe this is a necessary action - a state budget that relied on cuts alone while giving tax breaks to millionaires is out of whack with good management."

Layoffs Begin in Unified Court System

The effects of Governor Cuomo’s austerity budget are beginning to appear, as 600 employees of the state’s Unified Court System will be laid off or displaced. Reductions in staff will lead to shorter court hours, longer waits, and a decline in the quality of the court system.

Voters Overwhelmingly Support School Budgets

Voters statewide approved over 93% of local school budgets this week, nearly all of which called for significant reductions in staff and services. This shows that middle class families are willing to roll up their sleeves in order to pay for vital public programs. It is now its time for millionaires to do the same.

CSEA Voice Reporter Back in Business

The Voice Reporter was on hiatus for the past six days.  We appreciate all your inquiries about our lack of content during the past week-- we will try to keep up with all the business at hand to give you the resources and tools you need to succeed in work and life.  Rest assured, we will continue to provide you with the most updated news and information plus biting commentary about your working world.  We are dedicated to bring to our members and to our audience a voice for average working Americans.  We will not allow others to define us.  Thank you for your readership!