Issues: Payroll Tax

Bill Cuts Taxes for 4.4 Million New Yorkers; Repeals MTA Payroll Tax for Most Businesses;

Reduces Taxes on Manufacturers; Invests in Job Creation & Retention

“Today is the start of the much anticipated repeal of the MTA Payroll Tax. This is a huge victory for my constituents, the taxpayers of the Third Senate District.

As a result of the agreement between the Legislature and the Governor, 78.2 percent of all employers (over 700,000 taxpayers) will see a total elimination of the tax. Many others will receive a reduction.

I very much appreciate Governor Cuomo’s good faith efforts working with Senate Republicans to remove this unfair burden on Long Island businesses, nonprofits and others.

Ronkonkoma, N.Y. – The Business Council of New York State recently released their 2011 Voters’ Guide, which measures New York State legislators’ “Commitment to improving the state’s economic climate and performance by scoring their support for key business legislation during the 2011 session.” Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I- Shirley) received the Business Council’s highest score.

News From New York StateSenator Shirley L. HuntleyFor Immediate Release: November 4, 2011Contact: Antonio Rodriguez | arodrigu@nysenate.gov | (518) 455-3531

*PRESS RELEASE*

Senator Shirley L. Huntley Announces Launch of “Jobs Express” Website to Assist Unemployed New Yorkers Find Work

Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I –Shirley) announced today that the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) has endorsed his MTA Payroll Tax Repeal legislation.

S.5596-A/A.8193-A passed the New York State Senate on June 15, 2011, with a bi-partisan vote, 40-22. The bill was introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman George Latimer (D-Rye). Twenty-one other Assembly Members have signed on as co-sponsors of this legislation, including Dean Murray (R, C- East Patchogue), Al Graf (R, C- Holbrook), Dan Losquadro (R, C- Shoreham), and Fred Thiele (I- Sag Harbor).

The New York State School Boards Association released the following statement:

State Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I- Shirley) released the following statement in response to Jay Walder's resignation as MTA Chairman:

“While many improvements were made to the MTA under Chairman Walder's tenure, much more work needs to be done.

Here are a dozen suggestions for the next Chairman:

1) Prepare for life after the MTA Payroll Tax. Chairman Walder said it was "impossible", which was simply the wrong answer;

2) Cap the salaries of all MTA employees to no more than Governor Cuomo's salary. The amount of individuals making over $200,000, especially Chairman Walder's $350,000, is insulting to all taxpayers in the 12 county MTA region;

3) Commit to staying in the position through at least December 31, 2014;

State Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R,C,I – Shirley), said today that Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s on-going audits of MTA operations are further proof that the MTA does not need to cut services or raise fares when the MTA Payroll Tax is phased out. Senator Zeldin and Comptroller DiNapoli have recently initiated dialogue with regards to the MTA's finances.

Senator Zeldin has led the fight to repeal the job-killing MTA Payroll Tax, which was enacted in 2009 to bail out the MTA. The Senate approved Senator Zeldin’s bill to phase-out the MTA Payroll Tax (S.5596-A/A.8193-A) with a bi-partisan 40-22 vote on June 15, 2011. The Assembly Democratic leadership, however, has not yet allowed a vote on the legislation despite broad bi-partisan support in their house as well.

Albany, NY- Senator Lee M. Zeldin (R, C, I- Shirley), Assemblyman Dean Murray (R, C- East Patchogue) and the National Federation of Independent Businesses today continued to keep the pressure on Assembly Majority Speaker Silver in calling for an up or down vote on legislation to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax before the end of session.

S.5596-A/A.8193-A passed the New York State Senate in a bi-partisan vote of 40-22. The bill was introduced in the Assembly by Assemblyman George Latimer (D-Rye). Co-sponsored include Assembly Members Dean Murray (R, C- East Patchogue), Al Graf (R, C- Holbrook), Dan Losquadro (R, C- Shoreham), Marcus Molinaro (R, I, C-Red Hook), Jim Conte (R, I, C, WF-Huntington Station), Mike Spano(D-Yonkers) and Fred Thiele (I- Sag Harbor).