Wants All Bills to Show NY the Money
New York State Assemblyman Michael A. Montesano (R,I,C-Glen Head) voted yes on legislation, which would put an end to the Legislature’s practice of approving measures without describing the law’s potential financial impact.
Too often, the Assembly and Senate have approved appropriations whose real costs remain hidden. Some of these bills, for example, contain costly mandates on local governments, mandates which add to the high taxes already hurting struggling New Yorkers.
Montesano understands that real mandate relief is necessary, especially during this period of economic recession, to help overburdened taxpayers, municipalities, and school districts. According to the Tax Foundation, the Empire State’s local and state tax burden is the second highest in the country: at 11.7 percent of household income, it is well above the national average of 9.7 percent.
“Cost projections for legislation in the New York State Legislature are notoriously imprecise,” said Montesano. “In fact, they are non-existent on many appropriations bills costing taxpayers potentially millions of dollars each year. This legislation is the first logical step in providing mandate relief for all New Yorkers, but continued opposition from the Assembly Majority proves that dysfunction in Albany is preventing good ideas from even receiving a simple yes or no vote.”
The Assembly Majority voted to refuse the bill an up-or-down vote on the Assembly floor in a procedural maneuver designed to keep legislation bottled up in committee.
