“Since I entered The Assembly, I have consistently and strenuously advocated for greater fairness in the allocation of the tax burden in our state. I am proud to sponsor new legislation to reduce taxes on middle- and lower-income New Yorkers and increase taxes on the wealthy. I commend the Speaker for taking on this initiative, which is in line with the reality of how most New Yorkers live. I disagree with the notion that Capital Region families are opposed to a more fair tax system in New York. High-income earners in New York are thriving, and there is no sign that they are fleeing to other states. In fact, the number of taxpayers earning over $1 million not only grew by more than 6 percent in the last five years, they also hold a bigger slice of the pie by earning more income than ever. In New York, the top 1% had 11.9% of the income in 1980. Today it is 30.2%. By making millionaires pay their fair share, we can appropriately offset income inequality, reduce the burden on middle- and low-income earners, and raise the revenue we need to invest more in schools, infrastructure and economic development. Tax relief is important for our hardworking New York families who are struggling with the high cost of college education and health insurance, among other things.”