Issues: MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority)

From the Desk of Senator Jack M. Martins

Elminating the MTA Payroll Tax

My first Senate session in Albany will be ending on June 20 and looking back on it, I believe our state has made significant progress toward fiscal health. The most visible highlight of the past six months has been our passage of an on-time state budget that cut spending by $10 billion. Our goal was simple: to get spending in line with revenue. In years past, the state would routinely spend more than it brought in and then turn to taxpayers to make up the difference. This practice has proved disastrous for our economy and worse for our citizens. But I am proud to say that we have put an end to it.

June 6, 2011
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LaValle Co Sponsors Legislation To Repeal The MTA Payroll Tax

Hauppauge, NY- Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I- Shirley) and Senator Jack Martins (R-Mineola) announced today the introduction of legislation to repeal the job killing MTA Payroll Tax.  This announcement came on the heels of months of studying, listening and learning about the MTA and its financial situation.  Also joining them at today's announcement in Hauppauge was Senate co-sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle (R, C, I- Port Jefferson).

June 6, 2011
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Press Conference: Senator Lee M. Zeldin and Senator Jack Martins To Hold Press Conference Announcing Introduction of Legislation To Repeal The MTA Payroll Tax

Hauppauge, NY- Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I- Shirley) will announce the introduction of legislation to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax. This announcement comes on the heels of months of studying, listening and learning about the MTA and their financial situation.

Senator Zeldin will be making this announcement on the steps of the State Office Building in Hauppauge. Joining Senator Zeldin will be Co-prime sponsor Senator Jack Martins (R-Mineola). This legislation will be introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman George Latimer (D-Westchester).

The MTA Payroll Tax is a job killing tax that, in 2009, was placed on every business, school, local government, nonprofit and hospital in Suffolk County and throughout the 12 county MTA region.

June 5, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
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Senator Greg Ball and Rob Astorino, Westchester County Executive: Fighting for the Repeal of the MTA Payroll Tax and Supporting a Full Forensic Audit of the MTA

 

YORKTOWN NY (April 27th 2011) Senator Greg Ball (R, C-Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess) was joined by Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, Westchester County Legislator John Testa and Yorktown Town Councilman Councilman Dr. Terrence Murphy (R, I – Jefferson Valley) at a press conference today to support Senator Ball’s legislation fully repealing the MTA payroll tax, and providing for an immediate full forensic accounting of the MTA.

 Senator Ball’s legislation S4716, exempts self-employed persons, localities, school districts and not for profit corporations from the MTA mobility tax. The Senator is also proposing legislation which will repeal the MTA taxes on school districts by the end of 2016. As well as a measure that will require the MTA to attend the majority of public hearings on fare hikes in order to cast a vote.

May 24, 2011
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Zeldin to DiNapoli: Expand Audits of MTA

Senator Sends Comptroller Open Letter Requesting Thorough Top- Down Forensic Audit While Highlighting Potential Solutions to MTA Fiscal Woes

In an open letter to Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, State Senate Lee M. Zeldin (R-C-I, Shirley) today called on the Comptroller to greatly expand the scope of his audits of the MTA.

Senator Zeldin also highlighted a dozen potential cost saving solutions, some which have been discussed in the past by the Comptroller, and some which have not. These include:

-- Eliminate overtime abuse- well over $400 million is spent on overtime annually;

-- MTA should share in enforcement camera fines in MTA bus lanes;

-- Competitive bidding/ privatization of NYC bus system;

-- Public/private partnerships;

May 16, 2011
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Zeldin to Cuomo: Add MTA Payroll Tax Repeal to Your Agenda

Senator Sends Governor Open Letter Highlighting Potential Solutions to MTA Fiscal Woes

In an open letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Senate Lee M. Zeldin (R-C-I, Shirley) today called on the Governor to become more involved in addressing the MTA’s fiscal woes, and repealing the MTA Payroll Tax.

In addition to reiterating his support for a thorough top-down forensic audit of the MTA, Senator Zeldin also highlighted a dozen potential cost saving solutions. These include:

-- Eliminate overtime abuse- well over $400 million is spent on overtime annually;

-- MTA should share in enforcement camera fines in MTA bus lanes;

-- Competitive bidding/ privatization of NYC bus system;

-- Public/private partnerships;

May 13, 2011
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SENATOR FUSCHILLO CALLS ON MTA TO EXPLORE TAKEOVER OF MAINTAINING RAILS IN AND OUT OF PENN STATION

            Following a number of significant LIRR service disruptions and cancellations caused by Amtrak maintenance, Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick) today called on the MTA to explore a takeover of maintaining the rails in and out of Penn Station and the East River tunnels. 

May 12, 2011
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Senator Martins Attends Hearing on MTA Finances

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Senator Jack M. Martins recently attended at Senate hearing, held on the campus of SUNY Old Westbury, that examined the finances of the MTA. Senator Martins expressed his concern over the amount of the debt the MTA has incurred and the debt service in the MTA's budget. Senator Martins and his colleagues are looking for ways to repeal the MTA payroll tax.

May 10, 2011
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Senator Martins Participates in Senate Hearing on MTA Finances

Senator Jack M. Martins participated in a hearing that addressed the MTA’s finances on Thursday, May 5. The hearing was held at SUNY Old Westbury. It was sponsored by the Senate Standing Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, chaired by Senator Carl Marcellino.

The hearing explored the MTA’s annual operating deficits in an effort to stop the continuing cycle of increased fares and decreased services at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

“When it comes to the MTA, it doesn’t ever appear that revenues catch up with expenses. I am concerned with the MTA’s budget, especially when it comes to the impact on it of the debt service,” said Senator Martins.

May 9, 2011
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Public Hearing on the Finances, Policies and Practices of the MTA

Senator Carl L. Marcellino along with members of the Senate Standing Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, today held a Public Hearing to examine the changes necessary to reduce annual operating deficits and stop the continuing cycle of increased fares and decreased services at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

May 5, 2011
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May 2, 2011: Legislative Report with John Bonacic

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Senator Bonacic discusses his legislation to eliminate the MTA Tax in the Hudson Valley and Long Island as well as the John A. Colman Girls' Basketball Team.

May 5, 2011
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LIC annoyed by loud trains

Queens Chronicle wrote about the noisy trains that are disturbing residents in Long Island City.

State Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) said he and his constituents have had enough of the racket at the Long Island Rail Road yard located at Borden Avenue and 2nd Street in LIC.

Trains idle at the yard and pollute the air. On Saturday, Gianaris announced he had penned a letter to Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman Jay Walder, asking him to silence the locomotives.

“It is unacceptable that the MTA wastes expensive fuel while transit fares rise and services are being cut,” Gianaris said.

May 5, 2011
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Gianaris: ‘Idling Trains Hurt Quality Of Life In LIC’

Queens Gazette wrote about Senator Gianaris' letter to the MTA requesting a "no idle" policy at the Long Island City rail yard.

Continuing his fight to improve the quality of life in Western Queens, state Senator Michael Gianaris (D–Astoria) has called on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to cease immediately the idling of Long Island Railroad trains at the Long Island City rail yard in Queens.

Gianaris charged that the idling trains pollute the air with the excessive amount of fuel they waste while sitting idle and disturb the neighborhood with the loud noise of their running engines.

May 5, 2011
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SENATOR FUSCHILLO REQUESTS LIRR TO PROVIDE SCHEDULE FOR TRACK DEBRIS CLEAN UP

            Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick) today requested the LIRR to provide a schedule of when it will clean up the blighted areas along its tracks which are littered with debris. 

May 4, 2011
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Senator Martins on Saving Long Island Bus

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Senator Jack M. Martins speaks about the importance of keeping Long Island Bus running for the people of the 7th Senate District.

May 2, 2011
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Eye on the Island: Bus System Reprieve

Published in Anton Community Newspapers

By Mike Barry

Remember reading and hearing about how the Republican-controlled New York State Senate allocated $8.6 million toward the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) Long Island Bus (LIB) system, thereby averting significant LIB service reductions this summer?

April 20, 2011
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Senator Dilan Session Comments on Bill to Restore Road and Bridge Fund

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Senator Dilan asks Senator Thomas Libous for a explanation of his bill S.1071 before questioning the legislation's ability to restore balance to the state fund dedicated to road and bridge maintenance and construction.

April 13, 2011
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