Skip to main content

Hawley fights $5.7 billion tax hike proposed by New York City

By Billie Owens

A Statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) on the Assembly Majority’s one-house budget wish-list:

 “While I do support restoring the governor’s cuts to municipalities and funding of the Extreme Winter Recovery infrastructure program, I will not stand for a $5.7 billion tax increase as was proposed by New York City politicians today.

“There was no mention of unfunded mandate relief or breaks for small businesses, and even through all those taxes, Assembly leadership still chose to gut counseling services for veterans – an awful decision.

“Included was also an additional tax on rental cars which disproportionately affects Upstate as many in New York City use public transit to travel.

"It’s ironic that Downstate politicians want to further tax rental cars – that may be the last and final tax many families pay as they are leaving our state for the last time.”

Scott Chismar

Assemblyman Hawley and his ridiculous press releases. The constant theme is to puff the chest out, yammer about lowering taxes while at the same time bashing Democrats and NYC.

Let's take a closer look at this nonsense post of today. An increase in tax on rental cars is a terrible idea and the last tax folks would pay as they leave the state? Really? Is he serious?

Anyone with any common sense knows that the vast majority of rental car activity in the state is generated by airport traffic. These are business folks that fly into Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and every other City in the state to conduct business. When they land they get their rental car then the go do their business. Another large portion of business is for vacation travelers to destinations like Niagara Falls and The Adirondacks.

To portray a scenario that because an increase in tax on rental cars exists, that folks in GLOW are gonna run to Hertz and get a one way rental out of state is downright insane.

For the life of me, I do not understand how folks on here like to defend his nonsensical press releases.

Mar 14, 2019, 8:00pm Permalink
John Roach

Scott, you miss the bigger issue of Democrats raising taxes, period.

Taxes on rental cars, increased taxes on wine and beer, etc. How about no new taxes? Our Governor touts the 2% property tax cap, but then raises taxes on everything else,

Mar 15, 2019, 5:41am Permalink
Rich Richmond

John, it's great! Every time our Assemblyman Steve Hawley has a press release, it sets Scott off and he is compelled to react and comment. It is a trigger to him, as a Red, Make America Great Hat is to others.

Mar 15, 2019, 7:53am Permalink
C. M. Barons

This trend with Assemblyman Hawley categorizing legislation as "New York City" oriented is getting tedious. It may be accurate in terms of the individual who introduced the bill, but in terms of purpose it only serves his convictions to divide the state. As for the car rental tax: the vast majority of car rentals are associated with travel, either business or leisure. 50% of car rental transactions occur at airports. In NYS (according to Chris Brown, executive editor, Car Rental News) auto rentals would be heavily weighted toward downstate. I sympathize with those who pan the idea of an increased car rental tax of any sort, but suggesting that this particular increase will have a lopsided impact on upstate NY is not supported by the evidence.

Mar 15, 2019, 2:20pm Permalink

Authentically Local