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Sen. Ranzenhofer calls on Paterson to rescind plan to end STAR rebate checks

Posted by Howard Owens on March 21, 2009 - 9:51am
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Property taxes in New York are outrageously high. In that context, it's kind of amazing that Gov. Paterson would suggest the STAR rebate checks be discontinued.

Sen. Mike Ranzenhofer held a press conference in LeRoy yesterday to call on Paterson to rescind his plan elimination of the checks. It's not surprising that I was the only reporter to show up, but as a property owner (for now) in New York, I think those checks are kind of important.

Further, when you consider, as Ranzhofer points out, that the checks return $8 million a year in cash flow to Genesee County, the rebate program is exceptionally important to the local economy.  It is ironic that at a time when the Federal government is spending trillions of dollars under what the president and Congress label a "stimulus" program, Gov. Paterson would take money out of the economy as fast as he can.

However, I think weakest among Ranzenhofer's arguments against elimination of the checks is the notion that elimination of the checks could cause people to lose their homes.  This sounds more like a play on emotion rather than reason. According to Ranzenhofer's own press release, the average check is for $335 and $420.  At $420, that's $35 per month. I just wonder how many property owners are gazing at the precipice over $35 per month? Yes, I can imagine a retired person on fixed income finding $35 very hard to muster, but when the alternative is losing your life-long home, you're probably going to find some way to make sure that tax is paid.

That said, the effort shouldn't even be necessary. Property taxes in New York or too high and the last thing Gov. Paterson should be doing is essentially increasing those taxes.

Posted by Peter O'Brien on March 22, 2009 - 6:22am
Is anyone really surprised that Governor Magoo would do this? Why would he care what the voters of upstate think? He was NYC to elect him back to the office he was handed.

Until we cut off NYC we western NY'ers will always be at their mercy.
Posted by Charlie Mallow on March 22, 2009 - 6:59am
From what I hear, he is looking to end the expence of sending checks and the administration costs. The taxes would stay the same. They only send the physical checks as a political stunt. What does it matter if the bill would be the same?

Take all this political garbage from Albany with a grain of salt. These people love to tell little white lies to get the public going.
Posted by Howard Owens on March 22, 2009 - 8:23am
Charlie, another Democrat called me with the same concern yesterday. Before posting this I checked Google news to verify the spin. Even Assembly Democrats are concerned about losing the rebates (not just the paper checks). See this story.
Posted by Karen Miconi on March 22, 2009 - 10:28am
Yes, Peter The Fact is that this is not drummed up jargen. Mike Ranzenhofer has nothing to gain by informing these poor people of the facts. Its so sad to see retired couples, have their future threatend, their healthcare cut, and all they've worked for, pushed aside. These folks are very proud, and hardworking. This is not political garbage to get people going, its whats going on every day behind our backs!! Time for us to fight for our land, homes, and lives. This threat is VERY REAL. Oh and one more thing, its not about being Democrat or Republican anymore.
Stop w/ this "rebate" nonsense and "reduce" across the board.

Someone needs to checks Albany's chamber pot.... I think it runth over.....

and,

... it smells of wasted money on people masquerading as competent representatives {Found This in the newspaper}
Posted by Howard Owens on March 22, 2009 - 5:34pm
Karen, to be fair, Ranzenhofer has a lot to gain. He is positioning himself as an anti-tax crusader. He is polishing his image. That's of great value to any politician. If it turns out that Paterson is planning to discontinue the actual funds, than Ranzenhofer is out in front on an important issue. But, if as Charlie suggests, Paterson is planning merely on discontinuing paper checks, but people still get the rebate benefit, then Ranzenhofer is just an opportunist. But it isn't accurate to say he has nothing to gain.
Posted by Adama Brown on March 23, 2009 - 12:32am
Peter, if you want to "cut off NYC" then you'd better get used to MUCH higher taxes. Like it or not, New York City is the economic engine for this state, and provides the vast majority of our government budget. They subsidize upstate, not the other way around.

What Charlie says is exactly right. The STAR program is basically wasteful, because we're creating administrative costs to send people money that we could simply knock off their tax bills in the first place. That's the point.
Posted by Karen Miconi on March 23, 2009 - 10:51am
Howard, who can you trust these days?? Its one thing after another. The future for our children is very bleek. My husband and I still pay our student loans and probably will for a long time. Is this what our children have to look forward to? Being in debt all their lives just to get an education? My parents raised us as hardworking, moral, and taught us to fight the good fight. My father worked 38 years @ Eastmen Kodak, my mother 11, then a medical secretary until retirement. Now all they have worked for is being taken away. They had investments with Smith-Barney that were transfered without their knowledge, as well as the huge money they lost with the firm. Kodak is cutting their healthcare, and retirement,and they are in the STAR program,and budget for it every year. Now Patterson is considering taking that away?? Our parents are treading water, and for their kids, it is infuriating to see it happen.

As for NYC they have been "SUCKING UPSTATE NY DRY" for years. All this corruption, in the stock market, banks, investment firms, has gone on long enough. I'm sick of sitting on my hands, hoping the middle class will not be eaten alive, by the dirty dealings of these theives. Things are heating up, dishonest are being exposed, AIG is one of many that have to be stopped before our tax dollars dissapear. This is again just my opinion. We have only scratched the surface, and I wonder, will we ever recover??
Posted by Adama Brown on March 24, 2009 - 10:26am
Karen, I'm afraid you've been sold a line that's just not true; if you look at the numbers in the budget about where the money comes from, you'll see that New York City pays money into upstate, not the other way around. The people who try to claim otherwise are mostly upstate politicians who want you to vote for them against the evil downstaters.