Statement from Unshackle Upstate's Brian Sampson on the Possible Increase in Health Insurance Taxes

ALBANY, NY (11/16/2009)(readMedia)-- Unshackle Upstate urged the Upstate Senate Majority, who have banded together to oppose cuts that will disproportionately impact upstate, to not side with downstate colleagues as they consider roughly $1 billion in new health insurance tax increases.

The Legislature already increased taxes on health insurance by more than $730 million this year.

Not only will another increase make health insurance unaffordable for many New Yorkers, it will put yet another onerous tax burden on employers.

"They will be committing the same fiscal sins of the past if they raise the taxes on health insurance," said Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate. "The state's budget deficit must be managed with smart cuts that begin to control the state's historically poor spending habits, not with fiscal gimmicks and additional taxes."

Unshackle Upstate again called on Governor Paterson and the entire Legislature to consider the $9 billion in cuts Unshackle Upstate recommended in September as a starting point. The list of budget cuts includes immediate and long-term budget reductions, as well as suggested repeals and other long-term savings measures. The immediate cuts total $3.74 billion. They include a $2.2 billion reduction in state spending or 3 percent of the state budget; a state payroll lag ($700 million savings) and a state workforce furlough ($840 million savings). The complete list of recommended cuts is available at www.unshackleupstate.com.

"Now more than ever we need our senators to realize that we cannot continue on this course. We need them to be leaders who realize property and health taxes are too high, energy is too expensive, and reckless spending and increased fees and assessments will only lead to greater population loss as our wealth leaves the state," Sampson said. "In upstate, we will be looking for a hero who will represent the masses, and not resort to politics as usual."

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Unshackle Upstate, a bi-partisan coalition representing more than 45,000 employers with approximately 1.5 million workers, urges taxpayers and employers to take action by visiting www.unshackleupstate.com.

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