Budget moving along, Silver not drawing line on tax

Emerging from a closed-door negotiating session with Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he was optimistic a budget could be completed on time and wasn’t drawing a line in the sand about continuing an income tax on millionaires he wants to use to fund social service programs and soften education cuts.

“I don’t draw lines in the sand. Everything is open, everything is negotiable,” Silver, D-Manhattan, said. “I think it makes sense, though. I think we still have time to persuade our colleagues in government that it’s what makes sense and points us to a balanced budget this year and a balanced budget next year.”

A $132 billion spending plan is due by April 1. Cuomo said “deadlines are deadlines” and that passing the budget by the beginning of next month was “an important statement,” said said there was “good conversation, positive conversation.”

“It’s not over until it’s over, but so far so good,” the governor said. He said the tax was not discussed in the close-door meeting, but “it has been discussed before.”

Both the Assembly and Senate Tuesday passed one-house budget resolutions, which are designed as road maps to an eventual agreement. Legislative conference committees met Wednesday for rank-and-file legislators to try and develop unified positions.

A major sticking point has been the Assembly’s decision to include $700 million from the tax, which would be modified from its current floor of $200,000. That position has strong support from progressive groups and labor unions, but both Cuomo and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, R-Long Island, say the tax should sunset as scheduled at the end of this year.

“No,” Cuomo said, when asked if there was any way the budget would include its extension.

“I’ve said all along, and the governor has said all along, that the millionaires tax — whether it starts at $200,000 or $1 million — it’s a tax and it should expire,” said Skelos. “That is our position, and generally, when it’s two to one in these discussions, the two win.”

  1. mjw says:

    Yes, take from the poor and give to the rich. Those millionaires need that money to survive.

  2. mitch says:

    Hopefully somebody will draw a line in the sand and stand up to these wasteful, spendthrift public employee unions. No more taxes. The private-sector can’t afford it, and those of us who do not make our living stealing from taxpayers need these private-sector ‘millionaires’ to make a living.

  3. ResidentX says:

    so what we’re saying is that Skelos and Cuomo are for reducing taxes for the wealthy but are all for reducing services to the poor and laying off middle class workers. Glad we have that straight.

    its real simple… the wealthy are the ones whove been able to “weather” the recession and simply by keeping a CURRENTLY EXISTING tax in place for a couple years and REVIEW IT THEN would help the economy as a whole.

    The corporate welfare and bank bailouts have proven that businesses have ZERO Intention of taking the money given to them and creating jobs. What crack head is going to believe that cutting taxes for the wealthy is going to help. NO ONE is cutting taxes for the middle class or the poor.

    biggest money grab in history is getting even bigger. Effyou very much cuomo and skelos.

  4. Reality Check says:

    It has been easy to support Cuomo’s Executive Budget because the specific impact of the cuts have not been identified and won’t be until it is too late. As layoffs, closures of schools and disruption of vital services begin to hit home Cuomo and Skelos’ will pay the price for opposing the will of two-thirds of New York voters by balancing the budget on those least able to afford it. The legislature is supposed to provide balance to the Executive branch I am glad Sheldon Silver has the guts to tell the governor that if there is pain in this budget everyone including millionaires should feel it.

  5. Dave says:

    The biggest crooks in all of USA history in NY ..have said they don’t want anymore new taxes?? The obscene taxes destroying the state are enough??? More people businesses and residents are welcome to leave and we will just settle for less tax revenue as they all leave because of the taxes?? Wise choice..As wise as a box of rocks..From the biggest crooks and worst politicans in the nation.. Mubareck for Governor!!! Lets get screwed by the very best!!! Why settle for amatures!!

  6. Jim says:

    At least taxing the wealthy their fair share is still in contention. Amazing why some policymakers only want to protect those who have the most all the time.

  7. sammy says:

    Silver – if you don’t draw a line in the sand, who will?
    It is simply unfair, simply immoral, for the working class to make all the sacrifices, and the Rich to get a tax cut.

  8. MomOfThree says:

    Among the things that should occur: zero for “pork barrel” projects; zero for replacement agency heads and those who have already been appointed should have their salaries cut by at least 15%; zero for any remodeling to the Executive Mansion or any executive offices; zero to purchase any new “official” vehicles; cut legislators per diems (they already earn a salary for their part-time jobs); all public sector workers should get their pay raises on time; all utilities should be forced to forgo any increases.

    The people are tired of paying more for less and earning less in relation to the cost of living.

  9. eddie s says:

    First of all, I have never heard of a Demoncrat who could turn down a chance to raise taxes, but If the Demoncrats vote to raise the taxes on Millionaires,,will they automatically give themselves a raise to cover the tax or will they be exempt?

  10. phillossifer says:

    Has Governor Silver approved Assistant Goverenor’s Cuomo’s budget? Won’t fly unless he does, lets see,budget approval by September seems realistic, doesn’t it?

  11. Victor Blackthorne says:

    With respect to education cuts it is possible for affected communities to make up the difference. The problem with state aid is that it allows school boards to spend money that the they do not have to raise from their community and thus subsidizes expenditures that the board would not be permited to make if they had to go to their community.

  12. Silver, who is a punk and a bully, lost his super majority powers thanks to republicans winning some assembly seats. That’s why we have this “cooperation”.

    This guy has done more to destroy this state than anything else we could possibly imagine. If he was this cooperative in the past, things could have been better.

    He should be arrested and placed in a cell with Pataki.

  13. phillossifer says:


  14. Gill O'Teane says:

    Absolute insanity.

    Looks like all our “democrats” are really just republicans.

    We’ll gut our schools so the richparasites can have a little extra money.

    The richest 400 individuals in this country have as much wealth as the poorest 150 million. That’s how unequal we’ve become.

  15. Taxpayer says:

    Skelos is totally wrong in his aasumption that whn it is two to one in these discussions, the two win. I belive trhe assembly must sign off on the budget. If Silver holds firm, he could force the other two to concede or risk shtiing government down.

  16. john says:

    It’s not a tax increase. They are actually lessening the tax by increasing the salary to which the persons are taxed. I am sorry but the rich should pay equal taxes. Even with a millionaires tax they still pay less by percentage. If there are tax breaks for one there should be for all. Not tax breaks to rich and take more from the poor. If you don’t get this right this state is not going to make it out of recession so forget your buddies and politicians and keep the tax until the state is truly recovered.

  17. Don says:

    Silver loves to redistribute the money- take from those that have and give to those who don’t want to work, don’t want to get an education- and live their lives on welfare. It’s time it stopped.

  18. concerned middle class says:

    I agree that the tax for millionaires needs to continue..why should ANYONE not pay their fair share of taxes? Take money away from our children, take caregivers away from our most vulnerable. As to the private sector needing those “MILLIONAIRES” to spend money and to make a living, who do you think spends more money daily in our communities, the state workforce or the millionaires? Have 9800 more people out of work in NY, on unemployment, not able to pay their bills or spend money, how does that make any sense at all! Believe it or not, the state workers do not make alot of money, not the ones who actually work in the trenches. Let’s stop the wasteful Albany spending and look at where the real money is. Lower state aid to schools, the local taxes go up, that certainly does not help those of us who pay property and school taxes, now does it????

  19. mjw says:

    What the hell is going on in this country? We are lowering taxes at every level for the super rich, while taking from the poor and middle class. This is happening at all levels of government. Do the rich really, really need the money? I feel like I’m in an alternative universe.

  20. logic_required says:

    @MomofThree said of agency heads

    “have already been appointed should have their salaries cut by at least 15%”

    Ah no. You see, if you knew what you were talking about you’d know that agency heads have not seen a raise since 1999 because their salaries are in statute.

    The Tax Commissioner makes $124k per year. That is a joke for running a 5,000 person agency.

    Please get real.

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