Ed Cox Must Be Joking
By Mike Connery on 04/15/2010 @ 05:52 PM
It's hard to tell whether NY GOP chairman Ed Cox is living in a Republican fantasy world, or the NY GOP press shop is recruiting writers from The Onion. There's no other way to explain this press release, sent out late in the day, that attempts to pin 44 years of Republican tax increases on the Democrats:
Albany NY ... April 14, 2010 - Today, hardworking New Yorkers across the State do their civic duty and submit their taxes to Albany and Washington. Unfortunately, beyond the necessary services our taxes are intended to fund, they're paying more and more for government programs of dubious legality or value.
The taxes in New York are among the highest in the country. New York's taxpayers can no longer afford to be shackled with the debt that Democrats in control of government are accruing. Every day we see promises made by the current Democrat leadership in Albany and Washington to relieve the burden that hardworking families face, only to discover that such promises are hollow. Democrats have tried to disguise new taxes as fees for everyday activities such as using one's cell phone.
Our hard earned money has been squandered by these Democrat leaders on legislation and earmarks for their friends in special interest groups, in return for campaign help and contributions. Electing fiscally conservative Republicans, who understand the virtues of reducing spending and lowering taxes, is the only way we can reverse our trajectory and take control of our finances.
Lest we all forget, here are a just a few stats outlining Republicans' role in creating the enormous tax and debt burdens shouldered by our state:
- Under Republican rule during the Pataki-Bruno years from FY 1996 to 2008, the state budget grew nearly 100%.
- In 1996, the overall size was $62 billion; by 2008, it was $121 billion.
- Despite a strong economy, the state’s debt load grew dramatically under Republican control, nearly doubling between 1997 and 2008, from $31 to $54 billion.
- This debt stems largely from the Republicans’ refusal to hold public authorities and corporations accountable, which we now do as a result of the Public Authorities Reform Act of 2009.
- Also during this period, the debt load attributable to each and every man, woman and child in New York soared from $1,774.56 in 1997 to $2,675.70.
- Not only did Republicans turn a blind eye to accruing debt, but they also committed the state to poor loans agreements, resulting in a doubling of the state’s annual debt service: from $3 billion annually in 1997 to $5.8 billion in 2009.
- Since 1977, New York has had the highest combined state/ local tax burden in the nation for every year but three.
- New Yorkers pay almost twice the national average for local taxes.
With a record like that, Cox must be crazy - or incredibly desperate and disingenuous - to think New Yorkers would believe a word of his statement.
Joe Bruno and his lackeys in the Senate Republican conference raised taxes hundreds of times and doubled state spending in just 14 years. That's why the Republicans have continually lost Senate seats for years, why even Republican voters want to throw Republican Senators out of office, why Democratic enrollment is surging, why Republican fundraising is lagging, and why fewer than 30% of New Yorkers want the Republicans in charge of the Senate.
There is a party dedicated to restoring fiscal responsibility in Albany, but it's not the Republicans.
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