How is Andrew Cuomo like a Monarch Butterfly - A GOP Response

New Yorkers and the media, on the edge of their seats and waiting with bated breath to discover just who will be the Democrats' nominee for Governor, have finally had their curiosity quenched.  Much to everyone's surprise, Andrew Cuomo has emerged as the Democrats' nominee, just days ahead of the Democrats' convention.  New Yorkers must be grateful Prince Andrew has finally decided to let his intentions be known.

Clearly, the Democrats "royal line of succession" long ago determined the coronation of Prince Andrew would take place in Westchester this week.  Cuomo, much like the Monarch butterfly, is being forced to emerge from his cocoon of the Attorney General's office.   Cuomo has told New Yorkers very little about how he intends to govern or the policies upon which he plans to base his campaign.  Similarly, the elusive and clandestine Cuomo has given New Yorkers little information about how he will deal with the most pressing fiscal issues confronting state government: the budget deficit, and Medicaid and pension costs, which affect millions, are breaking the backs of taxpayers.

While Cuomo had promised to play the part of "Sheriff of Albany," his strategy has been to do the bare minimum and to avoid upsetting the leaders of his party.  While Cuomo calls the culture of corruption that has consumed Albany a "bi-partisan" phenomenon, that claim couldn't be farther from the truth. 

During Cuomo's time as Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, Alan Hevesi, David Paterson, Pedro Espada, Hiram Monserrate, Alan Hevesi, Malcom Smith and John Sampson - all high ranking Democratic officials and Cuomo's political associates, have been accused of corruption or obstruction of justice, several having been forced to resign in disgrace.  Cuomo's close association with these fellow democrats has precluded Cuomo, more often than not, from charging and rigorously investigating these corrupt officials, whose actions appear to warrant a far more aggressive approach.  If Andrew Cuomo wanted truly to lead and turn this state's government around, he could have started by rooting out corruption at the top of his own party. 

We look forward to more evasion tactics, more platitudes, and more thin rhetoric in the months ahead from the new head of New York's corrupt Democratic establishment

Hauppauge Middle School Students Earn 21 Million Steps

 Win Albany Challenge

Hauppauge Middle School students enjoy a visit to Muscoot Farm where they learned about agriculture and healthy foods.

 (L-r):  Hauppauge School District Athletic Director Joseph Tasman, First Lady of New York State Michelle Paterson and Hauppauge Middle School physical education teacher Diana Lopez.

Middle school students throughout the tri-state area were offered a challenge by the First Lady of New York State Michelle Paige Paterson -- could students make their health a top priority?  Seventh grade students in Diana Lopez’s sixth period physical education class answered with a resounding YES and took an impressive 21 million steps to prove it!

For six weeks, teams participated in the Healthy Steps to Albany: First Lady's Challenge, collectively earning “steps” for physical exercise and healthy eating.  Using the program’s activity conversion chart to convert their results into steps, the class earned the most steps and was named challenge winners.

As result of their win, the class visited Muscoot Farm County Park to learn about whole foods, and was treated to a healthy luncheon at the Executive Mansion with the First Lady and the Governor.

Oil Gushes into the Gulf of Mexico; More Drilling Planned

Written by John Dennehy

Last month President Obama approved a plan to increase offshore oil drilling; maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. 

As massive amounts of oil gush into the Gulf of Mexico and creep towards Louisiana it is becoming more and more difficult to defend additional oil drilling.  The energy giants such as British Petroleum and Halliburton have spent years trying to put a clean spin on dirty energy but perhaps the disaster in the Gulf can do more to change our mind than the industries advertising and lobbying campaigns.  British Petroleum, the same company responsible for one of the largest oil spills in recent memory, even went so far as to call itself Beyond Petroleum and tout its ambition towards a greener future.  And then their oil rig malfunctioned, their workers died and the Gulf of Mexico burned.  Is this the future they were talking about?  Are these the new technologies that will prevent significant environmental impact?

I know; the nation is still hurting from the recession and fossil fuels are the cheapest way to keep the lights on in the house.  I know; the energy infrastructure that has been built around fossil fuels can not be replaced overnight.  I know; alternative energies still have some ways to go before they can replace coal, oil and gas. 

Still, this latest disaster should at least give us pause enough to think; is it wise to drill more holes and spend any more money or effort on an energy infrastructure that not only is having serious environmental consequences but will almost certainly be replaced by cleaner and cheaper energies in half a generation. 

I’m not saying that we need to tear apart any existing oil rigs, but does it make any sense to continue to build news ones.  

Smithtown women from Philanthropic Education Organization (PEO)  chapter CK toast their sixth anniversary of raising funds for women's educational opportunities.

MTA Tax - Does it Violate NYS Constitution?

Fighting the MTA Tax

By Erica Jackson

This week, two more municipalities joined the fight against New York State’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Employer Payroll tax.  Calling the tax “unconstitutional,” the towns filed a joint lawsuit against New York State and the MTA.  

“The tax is a bad idea, with bad implications that could not have come at a worse time,” said Southampton Councilman Christopher Nuzzi.  “We’re trying to do more with less; we can’t afford to bail out the New York City transit system.”

The towns’ lawsuit, filed on Friday by attorney John Denby, Esq., of Devitt Spellman Barrett LLP of Smithtown allege that when the state adopted the tax, it violated the towns’ “home rule powers to transact business without suffering an overly-burdensome payroll tax.”  The suit also claims that the tax was improperly passed “since it was not adopted by a two-thirds majority of each house of the state’s legislature.”

In the lawsuit, the towns are asking, according to Denby, “a declaratory judgment that the MTA Payroll Tax Bill violates several provisions of the NYS Constitution.” It also seeks a “stay against further collection of any and all taxes and fees imposed by the tax.”

Under the MTA tax, which was adopted in March of 2009 to pull the MTA out of debt, employers, including municipalities and school districts must pay $3.40 on each $1,000 of payroll.  Southampton, to date, said Nuzzi has had to pay $155,000 towards the tax.

Bill Schoolman, owner of Classic Coach, was pleased that the towns filed an action; he delivered a similar action to the MTA and state in December.  “I think it is a horrible tax. It is a tax that supports fiscal irresponsibility and corruption,” said Schoolman.  He added, “The MTA is probably the most fiscally irresponsible corporate entity in the United States.”

Schoolman says the tax costs him about $20,000 a year, but he said, it’s not so much the money that upsets him, but rather, “the mismanagement of the money by the MTA.”

It is expected that additional municipalities will join the fight, including Suffolk County.  

In March of last year, the towns of Brookhaven, Huntington, Smithtown, Islip, Riverhead and Babylon vowed to challenge the payroll tax.

At the time, Supervisor Patrick Vecchio said,“I am pleased to join with other elected officials in an effort to have this onerous and burdensome tax eliminated.”

According to Maryann Genzale, payroll supervisor for the Town of Smithtown, with nearly 1,200 full, part, and seasonal employees on the books, the town is required to pay at least $90,000 a year.  “It is just another expense,” said Genzale.

Local School districts also felt the weight of the tax this year. Smithtown, Commack, Kings Park and Hauppauge School Districts all reported that they are asking voters to approve increased budgets due in part to the MTA tax.

As previously reported by SmithtownMatters.com., Smithtown School District alone was required to make a $400,000 payment toward the MTA tax this year.

“The tax has people pretty upset because it is indicative of government’s inability to control itself,” said Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Smithtown), who voted against the tax.  He went on, “The New York City delegation stuck us with the payroll tax rather than increase its fare.  In the short term, I’m afraid there is nothing that we can do about it.”

But, Fitzpatrick assured, “This is going to be a major issue in the state campaign this year.”

State Senator John Flanagan (R-2nd district) agreed with Fitzpatrick, saying, “I hate the tax. I didn’t like it when it was proposed or when it was implemented.  It was a bad idea altogether.”

Flanagan, who also voted against the tax, said he was happy to hear that Southold and Southampton filed a lawsuit against the tax.  “I just wish there was more stride and opposition at the time the tax was being discussed,” he said.

Of the lawsuit, the MTA provided the following statement, “How the MTA should be funded is a question for the legislature, but the payroll tax is an important revenue source for the MTA and its existence has prevented the recent round of service cuts from being even worse.  The MTA is facing a nearly $800 million deficit due in part to shortfalls in the revenue generated by the payroll tax. Our focus remains to ensure that every dollar the MTA receives in taxes, fares and tolls is used wisely.”

The state governor’s office did not return phone calls as of press time.

* It should be noted that Pat Biancaniello, editor-in-chief of SmithtownMatters.com worked for a period of time for Bill Schoolman.