April 29, 2009:
State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/I/C – Mt. Hope), advised consumers who were contemplating purchasing wine or beer in the coming weeks to stock up on Thursday because the tax increase rammed through by Governor David Paterson and the New York City Democrats who control the State Legislature takes effect Friday.
“Wine taxes will rise by over 11% and Beer taxes by 3%. These are products that everyday New Yorkers consume and will now have to pay more for,” Bonacic said.
This year the Governor and the Legislature – which is controlled for the first time in decades by one political party with leadership all from the City of New York enacted a State budget negotiated entirely in secret which contains dozens of tax increases on middle class families.
“Contrary to what the Governor and his allies said, the taxes in this year’s budget are just not on the wealthy; they are on everyday New Yorkers who like to drink a beer while watching the ball game or have a glass of wine with dinner after a long day,” Senator Bonacic said.
Paterson had proposed a 32% tax on wine but ultimately the increase was brought down to 11.07%. Paterson had also proposed a 13% tax hike on beer, which ultimately was brought down to a 3$ increase.
Senator Bonacic voted against the tax increase, along with every other tax and fee increase in the State budget. Senate Republicans proposed an alternative budget plan that would have reduced State spending without resorting to any tax or fee increases. “The Federal stimulus money was our opportunity not to raise taxes. Instead, Governor Paterson, Speaker Silver, and Senator Malcolm Smith spent even more money, and then and hit New Yorkers up for an additional $8.3 billion in taxes and fees all without a dime for property tax relief,” Senator Bonacic said.
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