 NYS budget won’t be
balanced on backs of PEF members
We will not allow
vital and essential public services and citizens of New
York who depend and rely on those services to bear the
brunt of the state’s fiscal crisis.
In order to close a projected $10 billion state deficit
over the next 15 months, sacrifices will be required from
all New Yorkers. Yet, some business groups are shirking
their responsibility, claiming they should be exempt from
any of the sacrifices.
PEF is leading the fight for a balanced approach to
closing this deficit, an approach that includes raising
revenues and cutting spending.
PEF has been supportive of the governor’s efforts in
dealing with the fiscal crisis, including judicious
reductions of the state workforce through attrition and
retirement incentives, but cutting state health care and
education spending should not be the only options
considered.
The state’s fiscal burden should fall on those most
able to carry it. The cornerstones of PEF’s effort
are a call for closing corporate tax loopholes and a
temporary “fair share” income tax surcharge.
These revenue proposals would allow New York state to
capture a portion of the federal tax windfall New
York’s wealthiest taxpayers and most profitable
businesses will receive in the upcoming years.
However, convincing the Legislature and the public that a
tax increase, even a temporary one, is necessary will be
difficult. Groups representing wealthy individuals and
businesses that are being asked to do their fair share
during the state’s fiscal crisis are fighting hard
against these proposals. Groups such as the New York
State Business Council are using suspect economic studies
and misinformation to scare New Yorkers into believing
that tax increases, regardless of the alternatives, will
cost the state jobs. And the media is quoting it widely,
as if it were legitimate economic research.
Economic studies such as those conducted by the winner of
the 2001 Nobel Prize in Economics, Joseph Stiglitz, have
shown that in economic downturns, when the alternative is
service cuts or higher taxes, temporary tax increases
preserve, rather than destroy, jobs.
There will be pain in this budget, but the real choice is
not between raising taxes and cutting jobs. The real
choice is between raising taxes and substantially cutting
services and the devastating effects of service cuts on
the people who depend on them. The temporary income tax
surcharge we propose and closing corporate tax loopholes
are not “job-killing tax increases” that the
governor opposes.
We will fight to ensure the budget deficit is not
balanced on the backs of those who depend on state
services or on the backs of our members who provide them.
We will insist that all New Yorkers do their fair share
to help solve the state’s fiscal crisis.
|
COMMUNICATOR HOMEPAGE
Inside This Issue:
Features
Ad blitz aims to save jobs,
services
Pataki eyes budget cuts
ERI savings slim pickings
for state
Bill outlaws discrimination
is now law
Leaders open PS&T
contract talks
PEF honors its Ground Zero
heroes
Departments
President's Message: Budget
balancing act
You Said It: Member's
letters this month
Health & Safety:
Smallpox vaccine concerns
Member
Mobilization:Organization is key
Nurses' Station: Lobby Day
plans for May
Health Notes: Empire Plan
number reaches all
Retirees In Action: Losing
ground financially
PEF Membership Benefits
Program & Travel Corp
Union Matters
Worker's Rights
Reg. 8 brings holiday cheer
State promises Rx for
docs’ pension-credit snafu
They got the 'write stuff':
• Furlani • Wilcox
AED training provides
statewide life support
PEF, Black Caucus plan
receptions
Apply May 1 for Jean DeBow
scholarship
PEF magazine, TV ad win big
2003 Election Rules Dates,
Rules, Requirements
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
|