Last Wednesday, I proudly voted for common sense legislation that will put more money in the pockets of middle class families, as well as eliminate or substantially reduce the job-killing MTA payroll tax for Rockland and Orange counties small businesses.
This is a huge victory for taxpayers all throughout New York.
As I rose to speak on the Senate floor, I thought to myself that we’ve once again proved the naysayers and political pundits wrong. We don’t have to succumb to the ways of the past and instead can achieve big things for this state once again.
And we did it together. Standing alongside my colleagues in the Senate, both Democrats and Republicans, I was proud to have worked in a bi-partisan fashion to accomplish real reform. Quite a sight when you look at the dysfunction occurring these days in Washington, DC.
Steering the ship from the get go was Governor Cuomo, whose strong leadership and unwavering commitment to action brought this plan to fruition.
As a result of our actions, now 700,000 small businesses and non-profit organizations will not be burdened by the job-killing MTA payroll tax. This is more money that will be invested in our economy, with the ability for businesses to hire new workers and grow our local tax base.
We made the tax code fairer and gave an actual tax cut to middle class families. In fact, our plan includes a tax break for 4.4 million middle class taxpayers while ensuring that those at the very top pay their fair share.
We also provided relief to disaster victims affected by the storm damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee by putting in place the Flood Recovery Grant Program.
We pushed to create a job retention credit for businesses directly impacted by a natural disaster while establishing New York’s first ever infrastructure fund to inject billions of dollars in direct capital investment.
I continue to believe that we can continue this type of success by working together and making New York more affordable. As your state senator, I will continue to do just that.
