By Dean Skelos, Editorial, The New York Post

New Yorkers want job security today, financial security tomorrow and opportunities for their children and grandchildren in the future. We need real solutions to to revitalize our communities, create new jobs and encourage young people to stay in New York. That’s why I recently announced a new economic-development plan to make better use of the funds now dedicated to Empire Zones.

The Empire Zone program, now set to end in 2011, has been the state’s main economic-development tool for many years. It’s had many successes, but has also been criticized for not being fair or accountable. Businesses outside the targeted zones want a level playing field when it comes to state economic-development incentives. (more…)

 Jacob Gershman, The New York Sun

New York is one of a handful of states that would be hit with a net increase in federal taxes under Senator Obama’s tax plan, according to a new study.

Thanks to New York City’s heavy concentration of wealth, the Democratic candidate’s proposal would end up raising taxes in New York State by a total of $3 billion in the first two years of an Obama administration, while most other states on average would see a lower federal tax bill, the study said. (more…)

Republicans in New York and across the country are building on the momentum from the National Convention and the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as the Vice-Presidential Candidate. Recent polls show McCain-Palin leading nationally and within striking distance in New York.

The New York delegation at the National Convention in Minneapolis/St Paul was one of the biggest, brightest and most active of any in the Country. With New Yorkers Rudy Giuliani and Chris Collins on the big stage, informative and entertaining events and positive media coverage, New Yorkers helped drive the energy and enthusiasm for John McCain and Sarah Palin that are now sweeping the nation. (more…)

By Brendan Scott, New York Post

ALBANY - Surging Republican John McCain has moved to within 5 percentage points of Democrat Barack Obama in the true-blue Empire State, a stunning new Siena poll has found.

The Arizona senator trails Obama 46 percent to 41 percent, slashing his deficit from June, when he trailed 51-33. Last month, McCain lagged 47-39.

The close race is particularly dramatic for New York. (more…)

Stephen Dinan, The Washington Times Sen. John McCain’s record of working with Democrats easily outstrips Sen. Barack Obama’s efforts with Republicans, according to an analysis by The Washington Times of their legislative records.

Whether looking at bills they have led on or bills they have signed onto, Mr. McCain has reached across the aisle far more frequently and with more members than Mr. Obama since the latter came to the Senate in 2005. (more…)

By Andrew Ward, Financial Times

Democratic jitters about the US presidential race have spread to Capitol Hill, where some members of Congress are worried that Barack Obama’s faltering campaign could hurt their chances of re-election.

Party leaders have been hoping to strengthen Democratic control of the House and Senate in November, but John McCain’s jump in the polls has stoked fears of a Republican resurgence. (more…)

ALBANY, NY –Yesterday’s primaries reaffirmed that Republicans in New York State are unified behind our quality candidates and are poised to win this fall. From Congressional races through the Senate and Assembly contests, Republicans are energized about an excellent group of candidates.

Building on the momentum of the McCain-Palin ticket and the energy from the national convention, Republicans are presenting a clear road map to cutting taxes, stimulating the economy and keeping Americans safe from dangers at home and abroad. This message coincides with needs of the average family here in New York, and across the country, and will lead to success this November.

By listening to the public and following John McCain’s example of service to our country and neighbors above special interests, we will continue to gain people’s faith and confidence.

 By Heidi Przybyla, Bloomberg News

Democrats are beginning to worry about losing the presidential election.

After months of leading in voter enthusiasm, fundraising and most surveys, Barack Obama lost momentum to John McCain after the Republican convention last week. McCain has gotten a boost from his pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate and has surged ahead of Obama in some national polls, while running even in others.

Arizona Senator McCain, 72, is drawing larger crowds to his rallies than ever before. Illinois Senator Obama’s campaign, meanwhile, may struggle to keep up the record fundraising pace it has maintained all year. (more…)

By Christopher Lee
Washington Post

As House GOP leaders called for his removal from the powerful chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) announced yesterday that he will repay an unspecified amount in back federal, state and local taxes on unreported income from a Dominican Republic vacation property.

The Harlem Democrat will file amended federal, state and local tax returns to reflect $75,000 in income from the beachfront villa that he previously failed to list on tax and congressional financial disclosure forms, said his attorney Lanny Davis. (more…)

The New York Times

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (Reuters) - Republican John McCain heads into the final stretch of the U.S. presidential campaign with a 4-point lead over Democrat Barack Obama, a USA Today/Gallup poll released on Sunday showed. 

The lead was McCain’s biggest since January and a turnaround from a USA Today poll taken just before last week’s Republican Party convention opened, when the veteran Arizona senator trailed Obama by 7 percentage points.

The new poll, taken Friday through Sunday, showed McCain leading Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, by 50 percent to 46 percent among registered voters with less than two months before the November 4 election. (more…)