By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – Governor David Paterson is turning up the pressure on the state Legislature in its waning days in Albany while taking a swipe at the union coalition that opposes his plan for a property tax cap.
A poll shows three in four New Yorkers support the Governor's proposal to cap property tax increases at four percent. Paterson met with supporters of a cap yesterday morning. On Monday, he sat down with opponents.
Paterson says he was outraged by the coalition of powerful teachers unions and others opposing his proposal for proclaiming it was dead on arrival.
Paterson was joined by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, who chaired the special commission which recommended the property tax cap. With 74 percent of New Yorkers supporting the cap, Suozzi says his coalition is much bigger than the one organized by the unions.
The Republican-controlled State Senate passed its own bill Monday that would eliminate school property taxes within five years and transfer the obligation for funding schools to the state itself. Paterson says that's not a viable solution because it would force the state to increase its income tax.
Paterson says he will continue to push the issue in this, an election year for lawmakers.
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