Response to Faso Defenders

There were two letters to Register Star editors criticizing my response to Mr. Faso’s Feb. 15th Op Ed article urging teachers, public employees and schools to make “give backs” in order to help with our current financial woes. One called me a “typical radical Marxist liberal” and the other suggested I have a “socialist philosophy”. Mr. Shanahan also criticizes me for attacking Mr. Faso’s legal work as an attorney for Widewaters/Kohls IDA application.

None of the characterizations or criticisms is true.

I do not question Mr. Faso’s ethics as a lawyer or lobbyist and both are honorable professions and he is certainly doing an effective and competent job.

My point is that Mr. Faso’s Editorial piece is consistent with has conservative principals even when speaking as a citizen/politician. When Mr. Faso speaks out as a citizen/politician – his views needs to be viewed with knowledge of his corporate ties. His philosophy is consistent with protecting those with large incomes. It was his article that mentions the $ 750,000.00 per year earners and suggests we are “extremely dependant” upon them and instead urges reduction in schools spending, and “give-backs” by public employees, especially naming teachers.

I continue to find it ironic (although consistent) that Mr. Faso urges a 3 million dollar tax break for Widewaters/Kohls and yet for the $ 2 million Columbia County short fall, he urges teachers and public employees to give back negotiated gains. Worse yet, schools themselves must cut back vital programs and lay off teachers.

The issue isn’t whether there will be increased taxes. There will be tax increases as indicated in every school budget being proposed. The question is: who should pay the increased taxes? Mayor Bloomberg’s January Financial Plan for 2010-14 estimates that 2009 Wall Street profits were a record $58 billion, nearly three times the previous record (2006).

Again, who is better able to pay increased taxes? The home owner who may have decreased income but increased assessed value on the home or someone who enjoys a large income and even an increased income?

Mr. Faso’ most recent defender indicates that the high earners will leave NY. However, Fiscal Policy Institute reported after the 2003 millionaires tax; really a surcharge:
…. employment in the state grew each year that the surcharge was in place, and the number of high-income returns grew steadily from about 245,000 in 2002 to an estimated 420,000 in 2007.

Again, who is better able to pay the inevitable increased taxes?

Doug McGivney
Kinderhook