"Governor Paterson's Executive Order requiring a fiscal impact study of legislation's affect on our highest-in-the-nation property taxes is a baby step, but a step nonetheless. Requiring state government to consider how the mandates it issues drives-up the property taxes New Yorkers pay is long overdue, which is why our Conference had previously called for its enactment. Now, we need the Governor to join us in pushing the Legislature to get moving on the Suozzi Commission's other recommendations made last December. Reforms like enacting a property tax circuit breaker and a real tax cap, along with banning unfunded state mandates and strengthening STAR, will reduce New York's staggering property tax burden, make home ownership more affordable, allow middle class families to keep more of what they earn and improve our state's business climate.
New Yorkers already know property taxes are a serious problem - they are looking for Albany to summon the political will to provide solutions. Those solutions will not come from three-men-in-a-room, or the partisan blame game: they will be forged by Members of the respective Majority and Minority Conferences in both Houses playing a greater role in a more open, transparent and accountable legislative process. This is why I am calling for the convening of an immediate Leaders' meeting so we can openly discuss unresolved policy issues and get to work on achieving bi-partisan solutions."