Meanwhile, 62 percent of New York state voters back New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s plan to raise income taxes on the city’s wealthy in order to fund universal pre-kindergarten. The plan, which would need approval from the Legislature and Cuomo, was opposed by 32 percent.
“New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s campaign issue, raising taxes on the well-to-do in the city to pay for improvements in education, wins solid approval in every corner of the state, except among Republicans,” Quinnipiac pollster Maurice Carroll said in a statement. “And Republican State Senators still have a lot to say about what happens in Albany.”
It's true that Republican State Senators have a lot to say about what happens in Albany - that's because Governor Cuomo and some breakaway Dems gave them control of the State Senate.
But if Cuomo wants the tax on the wealthy to pass, it will pass.
That's the short of it.
It's a done deal in the Assembly, and the breakaway Dems in the Senate can be brought to heel on the plan with a little convincing.
I suspect Governor Cuomo will look for another way to fund that universal pre-K, however.
Whether that means the return of the regressive commuter tax, only time will tell about that.
That surely would not make commuters from Rockland, Westchester and Long Island happy.
Wouldn't make people from Jersey or Connecticut happy either (though they aren't NY voters, so many nobody cares about them.)
I think a return to the commuter tax would be a disaster, but I wouldn't be surprised if that Dinkins comment wasn't a trial balloon to see if there is a stomach for just that kind of thing.
Clearly the Q poll shows there is plenty of appetite for raising taxes on rich people to fund the de Blasio plan.
But politicians are so loathe to raise taxes on rich people when they can just stick in some regressive tax on everybody instead.
Dinkins may have been set up with that trial balloon, but it was a slap in the face to someone who continued to compliment him and honor him. Also, why where there so many reporters at an Education Conference. Did they get a tip to expect a surprise from Dinkins so he can have a few minutes of unwarranted fame??
ReplyDeleteNo, I think it was because de Blasio has kept his post-election appearances to a minimum. Any appearance by BdB makes news these days. But certainly they all jumped on that statement, didn't they? Ironically the Q poll comes out showing 63% in favor of raising taxes on Andy Cuomo's hedge fund buddies the next day, but that didn't get the same play the Dinkins statement did.
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