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New York - Senate Back to Business Passes Sales Tax Increase |
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The bill had been defeated by Democrats when they held a legally questionable session on June 30. After a few procedural votes the measure was ready for a do over.
The bill might not have been ready for Sen. Ruben Diaz. The senator delivered another bizare performance before the bill came to a vote. Diaz stood up and begged Republican Leader Sen. Dean Skelos to support him in voting against the measure.
“I voted with you to kill taxes for your area,” said Diaz touting a previous vote he made in the evening. “I crossed the aisle to go with you to help you guys so you could stop taxes. Now I’m asking you, now join with me. Now join me. Now show me that you care. Show me that you are my friends. Show me that I can work with you when we need each other.”
Diaz said he opposed the tax because it hurt the working-class residents of his district. He also mentioned something about coconuts. Senators pleaded with him to sit down but Diaz taunted them implying he might go on for a full hour.
Sen. Kevin Parker then said he intended to vote against the bill. Parker said the difference between the city’s sales tax increase and others voted on this evening is that “it is far greater.” He railed against Bloomberg as an out of touch billionaire who is relying on taxes to fix his problem.
After the vote was recorded Skelos explained his vote. He said he voted in favor of the measure for two reasons. The first was that the bill carried a home rule message. The second he explained to Diaz was because “You said if I vote against it you would come to this side. I don’t think we could go through 31 31 again.” The room erupted in laughter.
The session was then adjourned.
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Read Comments (7) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 10, 2009 at 09:10 AM Anonymous Says:
a shood - let them keep on fighting, stay out of office, would have saved us all some money.
2
Jul 10, 2009 at 09:14 AM Anonymous Says:
funny how the nyc senators dont want the bill the the senators from the rest of the state are the ones who passed it!
3
Jul 10, 2009 at 09:22 AM Charles Hall Says:
This shows what insiders have always known: New York Republicans are not, and have never been, fiscal conservatives. We are still paying for the big spending programs of Robert Moses and Nelson Rockefeller.
4
Jul 10, 2009 at 10:35 AM Back to Work Says:
ahhhh, government at its best....taxing and spending. you know you are in trouble when you hear "we are the government and we are here to help you."
5
Jul 10, 2009 at 09:55 AM A Says:
“ This shows what insiders have always known: New York Republicans are not, and have never been, fiscal conservatives. We are still paying for the big spending programs of Robert Moses and Nelson Rockefeller. ”
Of course not, Republicans just usually hide their spending by calling it 'fees' or 'penalties' instead of what they really are, additional taxes.
6
Jul 10, 2009 at 10:58 AM Anonymous Says:
Oh vey. Bunch on Maydoff's
7
Jul 10, 2009 at 11:53 AM Professional Spenders Says:
The senate have and has always been so professional by making sure they spend our hard earned money. Kudos Mr Diaz for standing up to the lions on both sides.
Those morons will get voted in again and again only because big business interest groups will make sure of it.
Those republicans who voted for the raise in sales tax should go to hell
lets find conservative's and vote them into office