Some members of public employees unions in New York are bucking their union bosses and saying they should give back their 4-percent raises, according to Associated Press.
"I talked to my friends and neighbors who are losing their jobs and taking pay cuts and for me to get a raise, I functionally have to ask them to pay for it," Regan said in an interview with The Associated Press. He said he hasn't heard from anyone who opposes his view.
In other budget news, a group calling itself Better Choice for Budgeting Campaign, is calling on higher taxes and closing tax loopholes for Wall Street financiers and hedge fund managers.
“When you look at hedge fund managers making millions and millions of dollars and Wall Street having caused a great deal of the economic turmoil we find ourselves in, they should really help pay for it,” said Sen. Neil Breslin.
And while New York's budget is a week late today, Albany's Democrats and Republics are squabbling over procedure, according to the Times-Union.
Senate Democrats gathered on Wednesday to roll out an ambitious set of reforms to New York's budget process. Republicans shot back that the majority would do better to devote their time to the work at hand, and lambasted Democrats for failing to follow budget reforms that are already on the books.
Freezing all spending at last
Freezing all spending at last years levels would be a start. This problem is only going to continue to compound year after year if something isn't done soon. Paring down Medicaid benefits to something in line with other states would be a way to realize significant savings. The gravy train has long since run off the tracks.
Eliminate entire programs,
Eliminate entire programs, cut jobs, lower taxes. The socialist public sector union/political economy of the New York nanny state is about to blow, its a just a matter of time tic tic tic tic tic.........
Unfortunately, I think we are
Unfortunately, I think we are headed in the direction of California. Albany, like Sacramento, is already sending out IOU's for tax refunds. The Senate and Assembly want to do anything but cut programs. Tax increase are always seen as the answer and this just drives more people out or makes more and more "Go Galt". Things are going to get really bad before they get better. Too many special interests involved who don't realize the money is gone.
Starve the beast is my new motto.
How many have emailed Hawley
How many have emailed Hawley and Ranzenhofer with your thoughts on budget preparation? (I did) There's a poll for you Howard!
Thomas- are you really going
Thomas- are you really going to defer your tax payments to starve the beast? Exactly how do you avoid payroll deduction?
CM, You would be better off
CM,
You would be better off emailing Sheldon Silver and State Senate Democrats, who you know are the ones calling all the shots (at least by now you should know).
I'm sorry, John, but I still
I'm sorry, John, but I still think of politicians as public servants. If everyone in this state let their senators and assemblymen know how they feel about this ongoing mess, there wouldn't be a mess. You can't throw up your hands and leave the governance of this state to whim. The politicians are unaccountable, and we keep re-electing them despite their poor performance. I'm willing to bet, if Hawley thought he might not get re-elected, he'd wage a far more aggressive battle against the Albany status quo. And that's all I expect from the guy.
CM, I am glad to hear that
CM,
I am glad to hear that you think all of them, including the majority Democrats should be voted out. At least that's fair.
Although I've been known to
Although I've been known to contact senators and assemblymen from other districts, it doesn't do much good to rattle the cage of a Brooklyn politician when he/she can't locate Bergen on the map. In fact I phoned a Bronx politician who is more concerned with boys' droopy pants than the state budget.
John, I'm a Green... what
John, I'm a Green... what allegiance do you suppose I have to the Democratic Party?
CM, Allegiance, none.
CM,
Allegiance, none. Leaning towards them, only from your attacks on Hawley. Hawley has given budget ideas on this site, but you always ignore them or say they are not good enough.
And that's fine. Criticize Hawley all you want, as long as you acknowledge that under the current Albany system, only the 3 men in a room matter. And right now, they are all Democrats.
Would State Senate Republicans do better? They never did. Dale Volcker (R) voted for some of the biggest tax increases in State history and even voted to override his own Republican governor to do it. Now there is a guy who go.
Lets see who the Democrats run against Hawley and compare their ideas.
C.M. Become a contract
C.M.
Become a contract employee and write off everything you can. People can and will work under the table if things get too crazy. Limit purchases to only necessities, if you haven't noticed sales tax revenue was down last year.
If all else fails one can leave the state. States like NY that have implemented millionaire taxes are not collecting anywhere near the revenue projected. The millionaires are leaving.
Hawley and Ranzenhofer have ideas on how to fix the problems but the career pols, most never working in the private sector, continue to block effective changes and ignore the problems.
Thomas, I have heard from
Thomas, I have heard from friends who are self-employed that the tax obligation for them is ridiculous compared to what is determined via traditional employee deduction. In particular, the SSI calculation is severe. Obviously if one is not declaring or filing, the obligation is nil for "under the table" work. However, if one is found out, the penalties and back taxes will overwhelm most people. I would assume that in the present climate, the search for tax evaders is probably in high-gear.