There’s No Justifying Gov. Cuomo’s New Twist on Corporate Welfare

Statement on Gov. Cuomo’s Tax-Free Zone Defense Op-ed from Assemblyman Kieran Michael Lalor (R,C,I – Fishkill)

“Opposition to Governor Cuomo’s tax free zone gimmick is growing every day.  The governor keeps telling us it’s ‘big and bold’, but it leaves most New Yorkers out in the cold. A few politically-connected companies with lobbyists will see a ‘new’ New York. It will be the same old high tax New York for everyone already here. There’s nothing big or bold about it. It’s just a new twist on corporate welfare. This isn’t a partisan issue. Cuomo’s gimmick has drawn criticism from the New York Post, the New York Daily News, the Kingston Daily Freeman, and the non-partisan Tax Foundation.

“The governor argues that cutting taxes is hard; that we just can’t do it. He’s wrong and we desperately need to cut taxes for everyone. We’ll have to cut spending and make tough choices, but that’s what voters sent us to Albany to do. Other states have found ways to cut taxes and spending. We have to find ways to cut spending in New York. Albany spends $7 billion a year on economic development, but the non-partisan Citizens Budget Commission says that there is no evidence that money produces economic activity. That $7 billion slush fund is one place where we can start cutting.

“Governor Cuomo also tries to claim that broad tax cuts would only help New York City and not upstate. That argument doesn’t make any sense to upstate New Yorkers paying sky-high taxes. All New Yorkers pay high taxes. Cut taxes across the board and you’ll help all New Yorkers. It’s that simple. You don’t need gimmicks or new twists on crony capitalism. Let’s cut taxes for all New Yorkers.”

  cuomo, cuomo evil, kieran lalor, suny tax-free zone