LAST WEEK IN A NUTSHELL

Tax Cap Will Endanger the Ability to Deliver Services

Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders announced that they have a deal on the parameters of a property tax cap. The agreement would establish a two percent property tax cap on counties, cities, towns, villages, fire districts, special districts, and school districts outside New York City.

Call your Assembly member and Senator at 1-877-255-9417 and tell them that tax caps do nothing to change the rising costs facing local governments. A tax cap will only make it harder to provide the services people depend on.

This bill will inevitably jeopardize the ability of local governments to deliver the essential public services people rely on and have come to expect such as public safety, emergency response, local road maintenance, snow removal, clean water, sewer services county health care and nursing homes, municipal waste and garbage disposal, libraries, parks, day care programs and a quality education for our children.

Imposing a property tax cap today will surely mean cuts in programs and services tomorrow.

Pennies for Millionaires

CSEA kicked off the “Pennies for Millionaires Campaign” to heighten awareness of the millionaire’s tax proposed by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. The message is that Governor Cuomo is picking our pockets to give tax breaks to millionaires who are the same ones who contributed to his political campaign. Each region will have jugs available in the region headquarters to collect pennies to give to Governor Cuomo so he doesn’t have to pick our pockets anymore.

Hochul Wins in Surprise Victory

Democrat Kathy Hochul pulled out a victory in the special election for the House seat in the predominantly Republican 26th Congressional District. This sent a strong message to the Republican Congress that the middle class will not stand for the continued assault on Medicare and Social Security.  Hochul will be sworn in tomorrow.

Senate Votes Down Paul Ryan's Budget

In the 57-40 vote, five Republicans joined every Democrat to vote down the House budget plan that included drastic cuts to the Medicaid program and a plan to privatize Medicare.