CAPITOL GOP touts home heating relief package BY BOB CONNER Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Bob Conner at 462-2499 or bconner@dailygazette.net.
Assembly Republicans proposed another tax-cut package Wednesday targeting high fuel costs, this one aimed several months ahead at the winter heating season. Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, announced five bills designed to ease the anticipated high cost of winter heating. They include a “heat tax rebate” of $200 for seniors, an income tax credit for people whose heating costs exceed 5 percent of their income, a $500 tax credit toward removing an old fuel tank and installing a new one, a tax credit of up to $2,500 toward energy-saving improvements to a residence and a sales tax exemption for alternative heating fuels. Tedisco could not provide a figure for how much revenue these measures would cost the state. “How can we afford not to do this?” he said in response to a question. He said desperate people may be reduced to eating pet food this winter if fuel costs continue to rise. Assemblyman Roy McDonald, R-Saratoga, said people may freeze to death unless action is taken. The plight of poor people who cannot afford to keep paying higher prices was a constant theme at the news conference. A Republican proposal earlier this year to pass a summer holiday from gasoline taxes did not get anywhere in the Democratic-controlled Assembly. Critics including Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, decried the loss of revenue and said there was no guarantee that any savings would be passed on to consumers. Tedisco disputed that logic Wednesday, saying consumers in neighboring states with lower gasoline taxes are paying less at the pump. Schenectady County residents George and Barbara Van Schaick appeared at the news conference. George Van Schaick said the cost of heating oil tripled from March 2002 to February of this year, and has gone up almost another dollar a gallon, to $4.40, since then. Tedisco said failure to pass these measures could increase some state costs, as people get sick and are brought into emergency rooms. While he did not propose specific additional spending cuts to pay for the tax cuts, he said he supports aggressively targeting Medicaid fraud and the governor’s plans to trim agency costs. Tedisco said he continued to oppose the speaker’s proposal to raise taxes on those with incomes of $1 million or more a year, because it could be “a job elimination tax.” But he also said: “There might be some point we look at that seriously.” Some observers expect the Legislature to consider tax increases later this year, if there is a shortfall in revenues and a growth in expenses as a result of the recent economic slowdown.
Maybe they should look into increasing the HEAP benefits and qualifications as opposed to creating another government program through new legislation. The $200 heating rebate for seniors will just create more paperwork for these seniors.
I also feel that they should look into National Grid or any fuel provider to provide monetary incentives for replacing fuel tanks and energy saving improvements to residence.
No, N.Y. can’t afford all of Tedisco’s grandiose energy plans
Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco sounded more like a stereotypical tax-and-spend Democrat than a fiscally conservative Republican last week when he asked, rhetorically, “how can we afford not to help” beleaguered New Yorkers with their energy bills? That was in response to a reporter asking him how much his home heating relief package would cost the state. The assemblyman allowed that he didn’t know — no doubt one of the benefits of being the chamber’s minority leader. Indeed, fiscal impact is the biggest problem with Tedisco’s plan, which would give all seniors $200 to help them pay their heating bills; an income tax credit for anyone whose heating bills exceed 5 percent of their income (that would include many New Yorkers in the $50,000-$75,000 income range); a 25 percent tax credit, up to $2,500, to subsidize installation of energy-saving improvements; and a sales tax exemption for the purchase of alternative heating fuels (such as wood pellets). These are all worthy proposals, but they come at a time that the state is in just as rough economic shape as the people they’d benefi t. Ironically, soaring energy costs happen to be one of the reasons the state government has a budget deficit of roughly $5 billion at the moment — it, like its people, is a consumer of energy and is paying more for gas, oil and electricity than it budgeted. Energy prices have also driven up other costs and cast a pall over the state and national economies. Since last Wednesday’s press conference, Tedisco has learned that the $200 grant to seniors alone would cost $123 million. (He’s waiting for estimates from the state tax department on the other part of the package.) Obviously, a rather steep bill. So why not try a more modest approach, targeting low- and middle-income seniors who pay energy bills? Or perhaps focus on getting more money from the feds for the HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program? Likewise, don’t give middleincome New Yorkers any money except to make energy-saving improvements, like buying highefficiency furnaces, windows and insulation. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has programs that do this; more money would could help them enhance their incentives and do a better job marketing the programs. But given the shape of state finances and their clouded outlook, that’s probably the best way for the state to get the most bang for its buck helping people stay warm in winter.
If NYSERDA has programs to help people with high energy costs then why didn't Tonko implement any of them when he was head of the agency? The legislatures could also help people by lowering taxes, cutting spending, and eliminating the pork from the budget.
If they got rid of some of these stupid programs, and lowered our taxes, we'd have no problem paying our heating costs. We really can take care of ourselves....REALLY!!!!! Just cut these taxpaid programs!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
If all levels of government would reduce or eliminate the sales taxes charged on heating fuel, there would be no need for rebates, incentives, allowances, etc. targeted for select groups of the population. Such programs allow politicians to pander to certain demographics and voter blocks.
Note on page 2 of the document at the link below, that Schenectady County charges 4% sales tax on heating fuel. Schenectady County is among only a few counties statewide that charges sales tax on heating fuel.
It is my understanding that the county tax on heating fuel was eliminated for a few months leading up to an election several years ago, only to be reinstated shortly after the election was over. It is time to tell our county leaders to discontinue the taxing of heating fuel.
Each level of government (Schenectady County, New York State, federal government) charges sales tax on fuel. There exists a multitude of programs that provide credits and rebates to targeted groups (e.g., seniors, low income, etc.) of individuals. The administration of these programs carries a cost to the taxpayers.
The county should eliminate the 4% Schenectady County sales tax on heating fuel for ALL county residents. The state and federal government should likewise eliminate sales taxes, rather than create new rebate programs and tax credits.
To be fiscally responsible, the reduction in revenues must be offset by cuts in spending.
When we look for rebates, coupons, incentives, allowances, etc....it eats at the truth of "an honest days work for an honest days pay"......all these rebates and stuff just waters down the value of what we use/buy/trade/sell/build/grow etc..........anyone hear of farming subsidies.......and that is just one....
pretty much the same concept....the web is sooooooo tangled that the loopholes are enough to hang a State/government/country.......
shame shame shame sham sham sham...........
SHOW ME THE MONEY TRAIL.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
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