Despite Protests, Democratic Governor Cuomo Says He Will Not Extend a Tax Surcharge on Millionaires

[Better Believe It]

Despite Protests, Cuomo Says He Will Not Extend a Tax Surcharge on Top Earners
By THOMAS KAPLAN
October 17, 2011

Even as Occupy Wall Street stokes debate over income inequality, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo dug in his heels on Monday against extending a so-called millionaires’ tax on high-earning New Yorkers, saying the income tax surcharge would place New York at a competitive disadvantage with neighboring states.

Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat who campaigned for governor last year on the promise that he would not raise taxes, compared his resistance to renewing the temporary tax surcharge with the stand his father, former Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, took against the death penalty two decades ago.

“The fact that everybody wants it, that doesn’t mean all that much,” he said in a news conference. “I represent the people. Their opinion matters, but I’m not going to go back and forth with the political winds.”

The governor, aided by Senate Republicans, this year succeeded in warding off efforts by Democratic lawmakers during the legislative session to extend the surcharge, which expires Dec. 31.

Read the full article at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/nyregion/cuomo-says-he-will-not-renew-millionaires-tax.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

[LiberalFighter]

1. Yet New Yorkers (NYC) are willing to pay an arm and a leg to live there.

[rfranklin]

2. It is cynical and morally bankrupt to compare this to banning the death penalty...

This guy is another disappointment.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. NY voters are not disappointed. He has a very high approval rating:

Governor Andrew Cuomo’s approval ratings continue to remain high, according to a new Siena poll, despite an overwhelming feeling among those polled feel Albany is no more transparent than it was when the Governor took office.

“After nine months in a difficult economic climate, it’s impressive that Governor Cuomo has 72 percent of voters viewing him favorably. However, even more impressive is the consistency with which voters from different regions and demographic groups view him,” said Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg in a statement. “He is viewed favorably by 71 percent of voters upstate and in New York City, and by 73 percent of downstate suburban voters.”

more: http://empire.wnyc.org/2011/09/cuomo-approval-ratings-remain-high-as-gillibrand-schumer-slip/

[lbrtbell]

4. Disappointment? More like traitor. :( - n/t

[Nye Bevan]

5. Is a recall possible in NY? (nt)

[mainer]

6. A tax surcharge needs to be federal

Cuomo has a very good point. If it's just limited to NY, you can bet millionaires will up and move to Connecticut. And what will that do to NY's tax coffers?

[Nye Bevan]

7. The governor of CT is also a Dem.

Would it be out of the question for them to coordinate on this?

[mainer]

10. Which would send them to another state

This has to be a nationwide policy, or it will pit region vs. region.

[Nye Bevan]

15. Better not raise Federal taxes on millionaires, either. Might send them to Bermuda

or the Cayman Islands.

[hfojvt]

11. generally it does not help if you move

If you have NY income and move to Connecticut, then you just end up paying taxes in both states.

Sad though, that he can screw the people, ignore the voters and still have high approval ratings. To some degree, I think approval ratings are a function of media coverage. If the media approves you, then so do most of the people, but if the media attacks you, then approval goes down. The M$M is not gonna attack him though for cutting taxes for rich people.

[mainer]

12. But if your income is investments, then it goes with you

And NY would be out any state taxes you might contribute.

[Better Believe It]

14. How about exempting all millionaires from paying any state taxes. That would create a billion jobs!

And while Cuomo is at it perhaps he could reduce the state minimum wage to make New York even more competitive.

Ahhhhh .... the great slide downward in living standards in order to enable capital to compete!

Isn't it wonderful?

[spanone]

8. yea gov...fuck those people who voted you into office, who cares what those peons want?

[Canuckistanian]

9. Funny how no one uses "competetive disadvantage" when setting minimum wage

It only seems to apply to rich people.

[dameocrat67]

13. I have never understood why nyers liked him so much

he is a true lieberdem in every sense.

[Nye Bevan]

16. kick