Issues: Taxes

Your clothing and footwear purchases up to $110 dollars are no longer subject to New York state sales tax. 

On April 1, 2012, the New York State sales tax clothing exemption was restored to the original less-than-$110 threshold.

This means that sales of eligible clothing and footwear, costing less than $110 per item or pair, are now exempt from the state's 4% sales tax and local tax in those localities that enacted the exemption.  This new tax break could save a family of four as much as $200 dollars a year. 

Calls on Assembly to Approve Legislation to Restore State’s Mass Transit Benefit for Commuters Before Session Ends

      “It’s been six months since commuters saw both their federal and state mass transit benefits cut nearly in half because Congress failed to approve the necessary extension. With no signs of the federal partisan gridlock letting up, Albany needs to accomplish something in which Washington has shown little interest: repealing this nearly fifty percent tax increase and restoring these savings for hard working commuters.

The state Senate today passed three bills to help grow and expand the craft beer industry in New York State. The bills, which represent a three-way agreement among the Senate, Assembly and Governor Cuomo, will protect an important tax benefit for small breweries that produce beer in New York, create a Farm Brewery license that will allow craft brewers to expand their operations through opening restaurants or selling new products and will exempt breweries that produce small batches of beer from paying an annual State Liquor Authority fee.

“It is critically important to do everything in our power to help New York's craft brewers succeed.  This industry has thrived and expanded over the past decade while other industries have suffered and jobs have been lost. That’s why I, as the original Senate sponsor of this legislation, am excited to help announce an agreement to keep New York’s craft beer flowing.”

 Senate OK’s Her Bipartisan Bill to Restore STAR Rebates for Homeowners;

"I am adamantly opposed to the proposed plan by the Thruway Authority to increase certain commercial tolls by 45 percent.  Just when the state is making strides to show the business community we are serious about making New York business-friendly, the Thruway Authority goes out of its way to stifle certain sectors of our business economy. 

I am very concerned that trucking companies and especially farmers won't be able to cover the increased costs of doing business without passing the toll hikes on to consumers.  We need to start encouraging our small businesses, not making it more difficult for them to stay in business. 

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R,C,I – 59th District) spoke out today against the New York State Thruway Authority’s recently announced plan to increase Thruway tolls 45 percent on commercial vehicles with three or more axles.

 The New York State Senate today passed the 2012 NEW JOBS-NY Job Creation Plan.  The Senate’s comprehensive plan will help create thousands of new private sector jobs by delivering tax relief to small businesses and manufacturers, reducing energy costs, and enacting major fiscal reforms to make New York State more economically competitive.