It’s the ball thrown by the pitcher with no real speed, no deception. It’s a batter’s dream – the very hittable pitch.
I think of the “meatball” when I think about the legal ruling in New York that compels the state to cough up billions of dollars for equitable education in New York City.
This legal decision is a “cream puff” of an issue during this governor’s race. The courts have indirectly served up this “fat pitch” for you… the voter. The public and the press ought to bat this ball right at the gubernatorial candidates and make them field it, time and time again.
The business of state government is essentially done for the year, although who knows what special sessions may be called after the November election (pay raise anyone?)
Now, Assembly and Senate members are back in their home districts. Maybe they’ve even taken a vacation break – something veteran lawmakers probably find refreshing (late budgets had become such a regular occurrence that lawmakers often found themselves bathing under florescent lights in the capitol instead of summer sunshine on a sandy beach).
Any real reform of elections should include how maps get drawn – legislative district maps, that is.
You may have heard about how the U.S. Supreme Court just came down with a ruling that impacts that process of redrawing legislative maps, known as redistricting.
Does it matter to New York? It does, although it’s more of a wake-up call than anything else.
Now . . . let’s juxtapose this rhetoric with a big dose of Albany reality – the one that says, “stick your neck out a bit and you’ll get slapped back.”
This realistic message comes courtesy of the state’s public employees unions.
My colleague at the Center for Governmental Research, Erika Rosenberg, wrote that gubernatorial hopefuls are fixating on the STAR (School Relief Tax) program and the expense of other issues that could play a more direct role in bringing down local property taxes.
Also, as Monroe County’s sales tax issue makes it’s way into the courtroom (it is scheduled for Friday, June 23), have a listen as I talk with WXXI Morning Edition host Bud Lowell about getting that sales tax discussion into the meeting room. Have a listen right here (just click on the MP3 button).
The Brooks sales tax solution is headed to a courtroom.
But perhaps where it ought to be is in a meeting room.
You know the court story by now. Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks announced a two-part sales tax solution to a projected county budget shortfall. First, the county would embrace a trade-off with the state, giving up sales tax proceeds to New York while also giving up the local share of Medicaid. This is called the “sales tax intercept.” The second part would be a sales tax increase of three-quarters of a penny.
And state Republicans would like to stop from arriving there.
But maybe the state GOP should give a second thought before saying no to… Destination “Primary.”
You already know the story about John Faso gaining the designation of the state GOP faithful this week, grabbing more of the weighted vote than William Weld, the former Massachusetts governor. (Listen to Karen DeWitt’s fine wrap up here for a refresher.)
Monroe County has yet another sales tax complication on its hands
This one over gasoline.
The State Legislature has approved capping the sales tax on fuel as an answer to the gripe by motorists about higher gas costs. Gov. George Pataki sounded like he was ready to support it.
The state proposal also allows counties to cap the amount collected in sales tax on gas. The problem is…can counties afford it? The answers are all over the map.
Also discussed – the perplexing idea that people who pay property taxes to schools might avoid voting on the budgets that would increase those very taxes.
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