Two hot issues. Two petitions seeking relief.
The Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce announced recently its partnership with the Dutchess County Economic Development Corp. and the Dutchess County Board of Realtors in a Call to Action initiative to petition Gov. Andrew Cuomo to call immediately for a forensic audit of the MTA and what the chamber terms “the unjust MTA payroll tax.” The 2009-enacted tax ”“ 0.34 percent on payrolls ”“ has been notably unpopular in the Hudson Valley ”“ more so than in Westchester ”“ which sees itself as underserved by mass transit rail.
The second petition focuses on gasoline prices.
The organizations created an online MTA tax petition that can be filled out and submitted to all who have the legislative authority to call for a forensic audit of the MTA, including Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, state Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and local senators and assemblymen including Sens. Greg Ball and Stephen Saland and Assemblymen Thomas Kirwan, Joel Miller, Kevin A. Cahill and Steve Katz.
To access the form, visit dcrcoc.org and click the quick link “Demand a Forensic Audit of the MTA.”
The chamber also has launched a petition-driven campaign to lower gas prices.
“This effort was designed to encourage elected officials to find a way to act on behalf of businesses and taxpayers by filling out an online petition and that will be submitted to President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Honorable John Boehner, Senator Kirstin Gillibrand, Senator Charles Schumer, Honorable Nan Hayworth, Honorable Chris Gibson, and the Honorable Maurice Hinchey,” the chamber said in a statement.
The petition is available at dcrcoc.org by clicking on the link “Stop the Jump at the Gas Pump.”
