(NY) State budget draws growing backlash over taxes, fees (Tea Party/Tax Revolt updates and links)

Buffalo News ^ | April 1, 2009 | Matthew Spina

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Spending is up 8.7%over previous year By Matthew Spina NEWS STAFF REPORTER

New Yorkers howl every year about their state budget. This year it’s more visceral.

State leaders are about to assault the nation’s highest-taxed state with a new round of taxes and fees. In the middle of a recession, no less.

“It’s just a sad commentary on New York State that our local representatives aren’t listening to their constituents,” said Colleen C. DiPirro, president and chief executive of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, a group with an ear to effects on the upstate economy.

“I can assure you this much,” said Michael Johnson, president of the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors, “drastic spending, increases in taxes and eliminating the middle-class STAR program is not the answer to New York State’s deficit.”

“This budget is taxing everything but the air we breathe,” Erie County Executive Chris Collins said. “And I’ll bet that was on the table.”

The general reaction heard Tuesday: State leaders hatched a budget that barely nicks a mammoth bureaucracy. Legislators would rather raise taxes and nuisance fees than subject the government to sustained and long-overdue sacrifice.

A reduction of some 8,900 state jobs is still possible. But the state has hired 8,000 workers since October, when Gov. David A. Paterson said he would freeze hiring.

State leaders will hold education aid near last year’s levels, but they also will end the School Tax Relief (STAR) program that helps homeowners pay their school taxes. Taxes and state aid combined have in the past let New York spend more per pupil than any other state.

“They do not talk to real people, therefore they don’t realize what real people are going through,” said James Ostrowski, the head of a taxpayer movement called Free New York, referring to state legislators and the governor. “They don’t realize how many people have shutoff notices on their utilities. And they are raising taxes?”

The budget that was negotiated in secret by the governor and leaders of the State Senate and Assembly closes a deficit of $17 billion and raises spending 8.7 percent over the previous year’s plan. It resorts to higher income taxes on the wealthy, a list of new and higher fees plus billions in federal stimulus money.

“They are treating this stimulus package as methadone, to get them past the shakes and sweats of this budget cycle,” said Doug Muzzio, a professor of politics at Baruch College. “But methadone is addictive, and you’re not going to get another stimulus package. It’s extraordinarily shortsighted.”

It will cost more to register a car, buy a hunting license or fishing license, renew a driver’s license, pay a utility bill, smoke a cigar.

“That’s bad for the industry. Bad for everyone. Good for the Indians,” said Bob Colasanti, an owner of the Virgil Avenue Tobacconist in North Buffalo. He said tobacco retailers already have a tough time competing with tax-free, Indian-run smoke shops.

The state’s new cigar tax adds 47 percent to the wholesale price, up from about 36 percent. That’s atop the federal excise tax on tobacco products that increases today. “The state is going to tax a tax,” Colasanti said.

Hunters and anglers have mixed opinions about their more expensive licenses, said Stephen Aldstadt, president of the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs.

They want to see more money poured into state-run conservation programs but fear that more expensive licenses will lead people to stop buying them altogether.

Business groups have long complained about the high New York taxes that propel New Yorkers to other states. So they are unleashing an e-mail blizzard at state legislators, urging them to reject the budget proposal for 2009-10. If just one Democratic senator bucks the leaders of the majority caucus, the budget will be snared in a Senate deadlock.

“In the real world, we would call someone who stands up to this ill-advised and especially ill-timed budget a ‘responsible adult,’ ” Andrew Rudnick, CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, said in a memo to members. “In Albany, we will refer to that person as a ‘hero.’ ”

Don’t expect either of the Senate Democrats from Erie County to buck the budget. Antoine Thompson of Buffalo has a leadership post. And Bill Stachowski of Lake View said he would vote to pass it.

“We’ve never had to deal with a $17 billion budget hole,” he said recently.

Seven of Erie County’s town supervisors and a village mayor, all of them Republicans, called a news conference Tuesday to say they would hold their state legislators accountable for the budget and predicted voter backlash against anyone who votes for it.

“It is clear the budget the state legislators are prepared to enact is the worst possible budget at the worst possible time,” said Elma Supervisor Michael Nolan. “It’s time that we stand up and say we’ve had enough.”

Also attending were the supervisors of Hamburg, Aurora, Marilla, Wales, Concord and Brant, the mayor of Angola, and Collins, the county executive.

Erie County’s roiling politics, its high property taxes and its highest-in-the-state sales tax have spawned anti-tax protests throughout the years.

The latest was held Saturday, the Buffalo Tea Party, in which more than 300 people called for Albany to reform itself.

The next event will be April 18 in Club W, 199 Delaware Ave.

Ostrowski, an organizer, said state leaders are, unwittingly, likely to promote a better turnout. “Its a gift from the gods,” Ostrowski said.

News Staff Reporter Sandra Tan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

mspina@buffnews.com

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Links and updates downthread.

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ping

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219619/posts
SAN JOSE ( BAY AREA ) TAX REVOLT TEA PARTY ON APRIL 15th AS PLANNED

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219563/posts
Neil Cavuto to broadcast live from the Sacramento Tax Day Tea Party!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219437/posts
RIDE-IN to the Atlanta Tea Party - Calling all GA BIKERS!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219428/posts
MEDIA MARCH to the Atlanta Tea Party!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219582/posts
Mayhem erupts in Iowa House over tax bill

[abb]

http://www.northstarwriters.com/dkk172.htm
Taxation Makes Us the April Fools

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_12041594
Tax hikes begin today

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http://libertyboy.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/its-not-just-tea-partys-tax-revolt-in-iowa/
It’s Not Just Tea Partys - Tax Revolt in Iowa

http://mightyrighty.com/forum/general-political-discussion/16452-tax-revolt-commeth.html
The Tax Revolt Commeth

http://factreal.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/tea-part-directory/
TEA PART DIRECTORY

http://jerseynut.blogspot.com/2009/03/tax-revolt-in-new-jersey.html
Tax Revolt in New Jersey!

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2009/03/31/at-what-point-do-people-revolt/
At What Point Do People Revolt?

[unixfox]

[Le Chien Rouge]

Jobs available in upstate NY:

1) federal Government
2) State Government
3) local Government

...everyone else is a modern day Oakie but instead of US 66 headed west, they use I-81 headed south....

[abb]

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/286891
Chat with founder of Tea Party protest

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2009/4/prweb2283894.htm
Flagline.com Is Puzzled About Recent Wave Of “Don’t Tread On Me” Flags Sales—”Is America Under Attack Again?” Store Owner Asks

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20090401/NEWS01/904010312
Tea Party begins for School Board

http://somd.com/news/headlines/2009/9759.shtml
Anti-Tax Protest Draws Hundreds on Solomons

http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/08/040109_web_tea.html
Tea Time

http://media.www.cm-life.com/media/storage/paper906/news/2009/04/01/News/Conservative.Protest.Pays.Homage.To.Boston.Tea.Party-3691163.shtml
Conservative protest pays homage to Boston Tea Party

http://www.macon.com/203/story/668199.html
Tea parties all about principles

http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/42242607.html
Local citizens protest 2010 federal budget

http://cbs4.com/business/protest.tax.day.2.972804.html
South Floridians Plan Tax Day “Tea Party” Protests

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=65438&provider=gnews
New Yorkers Demanding Change

http://www.islandpacket.com/news/briefs/story/800053.html
Bluffton residents to stage tea party to protest government spending

[Realism]

“everyone else is a modern day Oakie”

HEY.. buddy.. It's Redneck. I had to take the time to look up “oakie”, must be a southern deal.

[reefdiver]

Well NY , what did you think was going to Happen??? You hate your conservatives, Love your entitlements. Re Elect your Democrats, and then cry like a baby when you got what you asked for.

NY STATE STUCK ON STUPID

[seekthetruth]

Hi All, I received the following messages concerning Tea Party events and wanted to share this information. I don’t sign anything without reading it either!

Copy Of Message I Received:
“Heads up everyone! If you attend any function like these please be aware Obama has people with petitions at these events trying to get signatures and information on people attending these events. We need to not sign any petitions without know WHO it is asking for them. We need to be careful since, “big brother is watching”.”

Copy Of Someone’s Reply To The Message:
“We went to the Orlando Tea party a couple of Saturdays ago and a gentleman was walking around with a petition for a citizen’s initiative for a constitutional amendment. People were signing it and when he approached me, I told him I didn’t know anything about it and I wanted to read it first. He was very annoyed at me (really nasty) and told me that he couldn’t imagine why everyone wouldn’t want this constitutional amendment (I don’t even remember what it was). I told him that, unlike our elected officials, I didn’t sign anything without reading it. He glared at me and walked away. After reading your e-mail, I’m glad I didn’t sign it.”

[GOPJ]

bttt

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http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2009/04/01/wapo-skipped-tea-party-protests-gives-big-play-opponents-male-circumcisi
WaPo Skipped Tea Party Protests, But Gives Big Play to...Opponents of Male Circumcision?

http://www.athensgop.org/2009/04/oconee-tea-party.html
Oconee Tea Party

http://wcollier.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-is-tea-party-manifesto.html
What Is The Tea Party Manifesto?

http://rustmeister.blogspot.com/2009/04/memphis-tea-party.html
Memphis Tea Party! (Updated)

http://oshawaii.net/archives/425
The following is a list of CONFIRMED Tea Party Tax Revolts planned within the state. Please note that we ONLY list events happening on April 15th.

http://kansasprogress.com/wordpress/index.php/2009/04/01/erick-erickson-precisely-why-the-tea-party-is-needed/
Erick Erickson: Precisely Why the Tea Party is Needed

http://www.redstate.com/britcom/2009/04/01/orlando-tea-party-slated-for-tax-day/
Orlando Tea Party Slated For Tax Day

http://sethadamsmith.blogspot.com/2009/04/tea-anyone.html
Tax Day Tea Party - Salt Lake City

http://greatdivide.typepad.com/across_the_great_divide/2009/04/colmes-im-proud-of-what-we-did-here-that-enables-you-go-forward-and-do-what-youre-going-to-be-doing-—————————hann.html
Fox News host Sean Hannity announced today that Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann will join his special Tax Day Tea Party broadcast live from Atlanta on April 15.

http://uspatriotgirl.blogspot.com/2009/03/schedule-for-tucson-tea-party-has.html
Schedule For Tucson Tea Party Has Changed

http://igotexas.com/2009/03/the-san-antonio-tea-party-4-15-raymond-russell-park/
The San Antonio Tea Party, 4-15 @ Raymond Russell Park

http://www.rightviewwi.com/the_right_view_wisconsin/2009/03/join-the-tea-party-in-madison-april-15th.html
Join The Tea Party In Madison April 15th!

http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=7380
Georgia bikers plan “Ride-in” to Atlanta Tea Party Protest, April 15th

http://www.resistnet.com/group/congressionaldistrict13florida/forum/topics/meeting-at-congressmans-office
MEETING AT CONGRESSMAN’S OFFICE TODAY-SUMMARY

http://www.rightinthecity.com/right_in_the_city/2009/03/new-york-citys-tax-day-tea-party-41509.html
New York City’s Tax Day Tea Party 4.15.09

[Realism]

You hate your conservatives..

You won't find too many die-hard liberals up here, even the one’s that call themselves Democrats..... I don't get it either. There are some liberal strong holds in the cities. We try to keep them surrounded and contained but we are simply out numbered.

[RebelTXRose]

I love my friends from Oklahoma...

I guess you’ve never heard the song “Oakie from Muskogee”...

[Realism]

I guess you’ve never heard the song “Oakie from Muskogee”...

Nope....

“I love my friends from Oklahoma...”

How would that apply to Upstate N.Y.? Some sort of mass migration?

[abb]

http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/2009/04/tax-revolt-in-iowa.html
Tax Revolt in Iowa

http://michigantaxes.com/wordpress/?p=1692
A break in the Tea Party fun with a message from our sponsor…

http://www.cehwiedel.com/blogs/redcountycalifornia/?p=5256
Seal Beach: Tax Day Tea Party

http://santafeteaparty.blogspot.com/2009/04/april-1-2009.html
Santa Fe Tea Party

http://www.thearkansasproject.com/arkansas-tea-parties-slated-for-april-15/
Arkansas Tea Parties Slated for April 15

http://taxingtennessee.blogspot.com/2009/04/nashvilledavidson-county-tax-day-tea.html
Nashville/Davidson County Tax Day Tea Party

http://thenewbostonteaparty.com/2009/04/01/tea-party-—april-25-2009-woodbury-ct-intersection-of-rte-6-and-64-11am-to-1pm.aspx?ref=rss
TEA PARTY , APRIL 25, 2009, WOODBURY, CT, INTERSECTION OF RTE 6 AND 64, 11AM TO 1PM

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http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2219805/posts
Tea Party Protest Announced - Salt Lake City, Utah

[stevio]

Yet they elect another democrap to congress.

[erkyl]

It’s Okie, like from Oklahoma, not “Oakie”, like from an oak tree, or something.

I’m confident everyone knows the story of the migrant farm workers who left Oklahoma in droves to work in California during the Dust Bowl in the 30’s. My grandparents were Okies. They returned to Oklahoma, but the vast majority of my grandfather’s extended family stayed in California.

Look, when conditions in your state become uninhabitable for production of your good and/or service, as it did during the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma, you move. Perhaps the NYers should follow suit and get the heck out of there. Of course, we don’t want the all the liberals infiltrating our conservative Red states, but we’ll take a few of them.

Yesterday Rush was saying how he was going to move his NY operation to Texas where we have no state income tax. I think he should. We’d love to have him here.