michael ranzenhofer

Press release:

State Senator Michael H. Ranzenhofer has introduced legislation in the New York State Senate to reinstate the STAR rebate check program for senior citizens. Senate Bill No. S6286 would provide seniors, who qualify for the Senior STAR exemption, with a rebate check.

“Property taxes are a serious burden for seniors, making it more difficult for them to afford the increased costs of staying in their homes. That is why I have proposed a bill in the State Senate to reinstate the STAR rebate check program and restore property tax relief to senior homeowners,” Senator Ranzenhofer said.

Senator Ranzenhofer also has authored legislation, Senate Bill No. S4338, to reinstate the Middle Class STAR rebate check program.  Restoring the program for homeowners would provide $141.5 million in tax relief for Western New Yorkers.

“One of the reasons why I opposed the 2009-10 State Budget was because it eliminated the STAR rebate check program. The 2009-10 State Budget also failed to offer homeowners a rain check to make up for the loss in tax relief. As a result, the average New York household has had to pay an additional $900 in property taxes each year since that time.  Passing this legislation is a start to return the tax relief which was taken away,” Ranzenhofer said.

Initiated in 2006, the STAR rebate check program was eliminated in the 2009-10 State Budget. Senator Ranzenhofer, along with many of his colleagues in the State Senate, lead the fight by starting a petition drive to restore the program shortly thereafter. The discontinuation of the program cost the average New York household $900 per year.

Here's a news release sent in today from Marc Coppola, a Democrat running for the state Senate in the 61st District.

Candidate for New York State Senate Marc A. Coppola is railing against his opponent, incumbent Senator Michael Ranzenhofer. The 61st District Senator is an outright hypocrite, claiming to be a fiscal conservative, while spending like a liberal.

“Ranzenhofer continues to call for budget cuts and less spending, but what does he do? He spends, and spends, and then spends more taxpayer money,” Coppola said.

Ranzenhofer sent out taxpayer-funded mailings through his government offices. This most recent mailer simply invites people to come and meet his staff. Another mailer informs people to be safe on Halloween.

“Are these messages really important enough to spend thousands of taxpayers' dollars on?” asked Coppola.

The practice is widely criticized as wasteful.

Coppola believes Ranzenhofer is misleading the public when he sounds the alarm about state spending and reducing taxes, yet he continues to spend more than any other WNY Senator in his conference on useless mailers.

Ranzenhofer wants it both ways contends Coppola, “He’s telling his constituents that he’s trying to reduce state spending, but nobody will listen to him. He is ineffective because he has no creditability and doesn’t practice what he preaches.”

Coppola also criticized Ranzenhofer for using the system to further his re-election campaign with mailers close to the election at taxpayer expense. Ranzenhofer should have used campaign funds, said Coppola.

“He has over a quarter of a million dollars in his campaign war chest, why not lead by example and use that, rather than taxpayer money when the state is virtually bankrupt,” he added.