A pair of Republican legislators took the microphone June 25 at Somers Town Hall to offer some good old-fashioned red meat for the coming election season.
Assemblyman Greg Ball joined Assembly Republican Leader James Tedisco called on the Assembly to cancel its summer vacation plans and go back to work to pass the property tax cap and reduce gas prices.
“We need leaders who are going to fight,” said Ball. “One of the good things about politics is that good ideas many times rise to the top and if you look at the comprehensive tax cap proposal that I have introduced in the Assembly, it”™s beginning to control the debate.”
Ball and Tedisco said that the last thing the residents of Putnam, Dutchess and Westchester counties need or deserve is another rubber stamp, do-nothing legislator in the state Assembly. Not surprisingly given their partisan tone, Ball and Tedisco said legislators backing Democratic Assembly Leader Sheldon Silver would stop a property tax cap and knock out relief for gas taxes.
“I believe the voters of my district know I”™m fighting for them and they are not about to send Sheldon Silver another rubber stamp for anti-family, anti-business, pro-illegal alien and fiscally irresponsible policies,” said Ball. “Rank-and-file Assembly Democrats, who are often rubber stamps for Sheldon Silver, have decided to avoid enacting real property tax relief this year. It”™s amazing to me that anyone, including my opponent, would even consider joining their ranks.”
None of the alleged rubber-stamping Democrats was in attendance.
According to Ball, the 2008 Assembly contributions from Democrats have failed to help his constituents, including the legalization of medical marijuana, legislation against hunters and a tax on the Internet, rather than focusing on the issues of jobs, taxes and health care.
Regarding property taxes, Ball said, “We”™ve asked Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties to cap the tax immediately for taxpayers. We”™re talking about tens of millions of dollars that will get sent back to taxpayers.”
Ball said 2 million New Yorkers have moved away from the state, citing the figure as another reason for a call to arms and an extended assembly session.
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“The Legislature in Albany is a taxpayer-funded boondoggle and represents an assault on everything that is good and decent in New York,” said Ball. “The Assembly majority should cancel their vacation plans, unpack the bathing suits and tanning lotion, and get back to Albany to cap property taxes and ease the pain at the pump.”
Ball attempted to set himself apart from the dysfunction and listed his accomplishments in voting even the smallest increases in taxes down and similar promises that he says he helped bring to fruition.
“Assemblyman Greg Ball has been a powerful and effective voice in the fight to change Albany,” said Tedisco. “The last thing the people of New York need is a get-along-to-go-along Democrat in sheep”™s clothing lounging around the Assembly as a roadblock to the progressive reforms Greg and I want to accomplish for middle class families, like capping property taxes and cutting gas taxes.”
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