In an emergency session called by the Governor, Assemblyman Bill Reilich (R,C,I-Greece) early this morning and last night, voted to reduce state overspending and for a minority-sponsored circuit breaker property tax relief plan that would help middle-class families without increasing job-killing taxes.
Reilich reached across party lines to join the majority in reducing $427 million from the state budget to help ease our state’s growing fiscal crisis – the worst it’s seen since the l970s.
"We took a positive step forward in starting to reduce our state’s bad spending habits," said Reilich. "If families and businesses have to rein in spending, then so should state government."
Meanwhile, the Assembly majority failed to heed the Governor’s call and act on the property tax cap which the state Senate passed two weeks ago with the minority and majority joining to champion this proven measure to limit property tax growth.
"I believe we need both a circuit breaker to cut taxes now for middle-class families and seniors and also a tax cap to ensure people will be able to afford their tax bills in the future," said Reilich. "Instead of taking a serious and bipartisan look at reforming our state’s broken property tax system, the Assembly majority put forth a risky and reckless $2.6 billion tax hike that would lead to more jobs and people leaving our state."
"What’s most troubling is the Governor and the Senate both oppose the Assembly Majority’s $2.6 billion tax hike, so it’s obvious the Speaker and his conference knew it will never become law. This tax scheme was political theater at its worst. I thought we were called back to Albany to help struggling taxpayers, not hurt them even more by passing tax hikes that will kill local jobs," said Reilich.
"We need to cut and cap taxes not raise them," said Reilich. "That’s why I voted ‘yes’ on an amendment to offer circuit breaker tax relief by eliminating the $2.6 billion tax increase and ‘no’ on the bill to hike taxes."
As a member of the Assembly, Reilich has voted against $3.7 billion in new taxes and fees proposed by Albany politicians.