Op-Ed: Sen. Skelos Talks Tax Cap, MTA Payroll Tax

When Republicans regained the Majority of the state Senate, we said that things would be better in Albany. We said we would stop the over-taxing and over-spending and break through the gridlock and dysfunction to create a government that truly functions in the best interests of the people. One year later, we have delivered.           

Earlier this year, we enacted an on-time, fiscally responsible state budget that closed a $10 billion deficit without raising taxes and fees, or increasing borrowing. We did it in a way that puts New York on a better path for the future, by cutting spending, reducing the size of the state bureaucracy and empowering businesses to create private sector jobs.

We also enacted job creation measures that included new business tax credits, a new low-cost power program to help cut energy costs for manufacturers, and a major economic expansion at State University centers in Stony Brook and Upstate that will create new jobs for each of those regions.  

We enacted a two-percent property tax cap that will finally put the brakes on skyrocketing local property taxes that forced people to leave their homes and caused some businesses and jobs to leave Long Island. 

Perhaps no legislation will have a greater impact on taxpayers and job creators than the Middle Class Tax Cut and Job Creation Plan recently signed into law. It will reduce taxes for millions of hardworking, middle-class taxpayers to their lowest levels in more than half a century. The plan will provide a total of more than $3.3 billion in tax relief to individuals and businesses and is supported by the Long Island Association and many business groups across the state. 

The measure will strengthen our economy and create new jobs by eliminating the job-killing MTA payroll tax for 72,000 businesses in Nassau and Suffolk counties.   

We accomplished a lot, but much more needs to be done to reduce spending, cut taxes and strengthen our economy. I look forward to working with Governor Cuomo in 2012 to build on our record as we continue to restore people’s confidence that state government is functioning in their best interests.