The New York Business
Council forgot what happened to Pinocchio
Click Here for more PEF BUDGET
FIGHT BACK ad campaigns
PEF fights to
raise state revenues
By SHERRY HALBROOK
When there’s not enough money to go around, those
who need it most stand in danger of getting the least.
This year, the state faces the largest budget shortfall
in its history, $12 billion, and the governor would
bridge the gap almost entirely by cutting services,
rather than boosting revenues. It’s a plan that
would benefit the state’s wealthiest individuals and
corporations at the expense of everyone else.
PEF is again on the front lines of the battle to achieve
balance and fairness in the 2003-’04 state budget.
“We are leading coalitions of citizens and
organizations in educating the public about the painful
choices posed in this budget,” said PEF President
Roger Benson.
“The choices won’t be so painful or the fiscal
gap so wide,” he said, “if all of us who
benefit from this state’s services and
infrastructure help pay for them.
“We support equally raising revenues and cutting
spending. Our revenue proposals would raise $4.5 billion,
while still leaving New York’s wealthiest taxpayers
and most profitable businesses with generous tax
breaks,” Benson added.
These proposals include:
• Enacting a temporary state income-tax surcharge of
0.7 percent on the portion of adjusted gross income over
$100,000, and an additional surcharge of 1.4 percent on
the portion of adjusted gross income above $200,000; and
• Eliminating corporate tax loopholes so that all
corporations doing business in New York State pay their
fair share of taxes here.
The NYS Business Council has been fighting these
proposals in an intense lobbying and public-relations
battle with PEF and others, such as the NYS Fiscal Policy
Institute.
“The real choice is not between raising taxes and
not raising taxes,” Benson said. “The real
choice is between raising taxes and substantially cutting
services.
“The Business Council’s plan to close the
budget deficit recommends that the state reduce its
workforce by 20,000 employees. And the council wants the
state to cut funds for education, health care, and the
court system.”
PEF estimates the Business Council’s proposals would
result in the loss of at least 60,000 public and
health-care sector jobs.
Credible economic studies, such as those conducted by
Joseph Stiglitz, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in
Economics, generally find that when the alternative is
service cuts, higher taxes preserve, rather than destroy,
jobs.
“We believe the real reason the Business Council
opposes a temporary income-tax surcharge and closing
corporate loopholes is to ensure that their wealthy
directors and members — most of whom make
multi-million dollar salaries — and profitable
corporations do not pay their fair share of state
taxes,” Benson said.
|
COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This Issue:
Features
PEF fires back in budget
battles for state services
PEF fights to raise state
revenues
Budget cuts leave research
in tatters
Unions may unite in battle
over health benefits
DEC: Polluters’ lackies
can replace state monitors
Departments
President's Message: NYS
budget must be fair
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Health & Safety:
Evaluating your safety risks
Member Mobilization:
Building Survivor Skills
Nurses' Station: Lobby Day
plans for May 5th
Retirees In Action: Fight
health insurance hike
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Members In Action
Union Matters
'Operation Enduring Freedom'
with state workers
DOH members ahead in
evacuation planning
Call for Delegates: Annual
Convention Rules
Member dons dress to raise
$$ for charity
Other Links
Professional Directory
Members' Classified
Member Communicator Feedback
Do You Prefer The Online
Edition?
How To Advertise Here
PEF Pride Store
The Communicator Staff
Questions on this site? Email the comwebmaster.
 Register here on the
PEF
Member Network.
 Click Here email notice when next issue is
online
Site Map What's New Search
|