Cox: Democrats' Control of Maligned Final Budget Process Fails New Yorkers Across the Board

Albany, New York . . . August 4, 2010 – The following is a statement from State Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox regarding the Democrat-controlled legislature’s passage of yet another horrific and debilitating budget for the state of New York: 

“After four months of wrangling, Albany Democrats, in complete control of our state government, have once again failed New Yorkers with the passage of today’s budget.  This disastrous budget includes Senate Democrats’ decision to raise taxes by close to $4 billion, and their approval of new taxes that will cripple nearly every sector and demographic in the state.  It is an insult to every New Yorker during a time when we need tax relief, not further impediments to job growth and families’ ability to live and work in their home state. 

“A near record 125 days after the budget deadline passed, the final pieces of the budget, including approval of new income taxes, business taxes and reinstatement of the sales tax on clothing, passed entirely along the Democrats’ party line vote of 32 to 28 in the Senate, with all members of the GOP Conference in the Senate voting against.  Democrat rule in both houses and a closed budget process full of pork for Democrat leaders, has further extended the paralyzing trend that commenced when Democrats took control of the Senate last year and raised taxes by more than $10 billion.

Senator Skelos is right to note a recent report by the Manhattan Institute, which shows how New York Democrats have raised taxes per capita far more than any other State in the nation, including California. The Democrats’ only solutions to New York’s historic budget deficit have involved nothing more than a hemorrhaging of our hard earned tax dollars. This trend must be brought to an abrupt end this November.”

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