Unshackle Upstate Acknowledges Legislature for Cutting Deficit Without Raising Taxes and Fees

ALBANY, NY (12/02/2009)(readMedia)-- Unshackle Upstate today acknowledged the New York State Legislature for advancing a $2.7 billion Deficit Reduction Plan without implementing additional taxes and fees, but demanded lawmakers carry this fiscal discipline forward into the 2010-11 budgeting process.

Unshackle Upstate Executive Director Brian Sampson credited taxpayers, employers and business groups for expressing outrage and applying constant pressure to the governor and lawmakers to address the budget deficit without resorting to the usual practice of raising taxes, fees and assessments on New York's taxpayers and employers.

"Lawmakers and the governor heard the cries of taxpayers and the business community and resisted the temptation to raise taxes and fees, unlike what the Majority did earlier this year in passing a state budget that cost a family of four more than $1,300 in new taxes and fees," Sampson said.

The business coalition demanded the Senate, Assembly and the governor maintain a disciplined approach as they consider additional budget cuts to address the looming $11 billion deficit projected in the next fiscal year.

"While the DRP addresses a majority of the $3.2 billion current-year deficit, it does nothing to correct the structural imbalance in state spending," Sampson said. "With the governor's budget proposal due in January, the public must continue to insist that our elected officials correct this imbalance next year. The public must be willing to vote out those who ignore what is required to return balance to the budget. Like no other year in our history, 2009 has proven that New York's tax-and-spend culture and fiscal gimmickry cannot be sustained."

According to 2006 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, New York ranked 49th out of 50 in state and local per capita spending, with $12,505 in state and local funds allocated per person per year and $34,088 per household per year.

"Clearly, New York's spending and taxing has been out of control for far too long," Sampson said. "This DRP must signal the end to this systematic recklessness. The governor and the Legislature should not be spending what the state does not have."

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.