Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) joined members of the Senate and Assembly Minority conferences, as well as Grover Norquist from Americans for Tax Reform, Jonathan Williams from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), Ashley Ranslow from the National Federation of Independent Business and other advocates for tax relief at a rally in the state Capitol highlighting the need for reforms to the state’s spending.

New data from the Tax Foundation released on April 2, 2024, showed New York state ranks 50^th in the nation for the highest state-local tax burdens per capita and as a percentage of income at 15.9% (by comparison, Alaska ranks lowest at 4.6%). Additionally, New York ranks 49^th overall on the State Business Tax Climate Index, scoring 50^th for individual income tax and 49^th for property tax.

“On Tax Day, as millions of New Yorkers have paid their personal income tax bills or business taxes, everyone feels the reality of Albany’s ‘tax-and-spend’ addiction,” said Norris. “With the inflation index still high and so many people struggling to afford the price of groceries, medications and daily essentials, it is difficult to factor in a tax bill on top of everything else. Let this rally highlight that to the governor and legislative leaders who are still negotiating an overdue state budget behind closed doors. Let this be a reminder to them of the hardworking men and women, the families, seniors, farmers and businesses all across this great state trying to make ends meet right now while they are considering how to spend those hard-earned tax dollars.”

Norris said that because all budgets are about priorities, he has been urging the governor and legislative leaders to get back to the basics and to focus on a state budget that prioritizes the essentials of state government. That means focusing on the needs of everyone, such as public safety, infrastructure and education—all while remaining within a fiscally sound financial plan that does not further add to taxpayers’ burden.

WATCH VIDEO HERE: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qQCTpOAYIzUubaf--02tHaG0ZrPFQfkg/view?usp=sharing