The debate over tax increases as part of the New York budget is shaping up to be a test of how far the Democrats in the state legislature will face their party colleague, Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
After last year’s election, Democrats have a two-thirds majority in both the state Assembly and Senate, enough to overturn a government veto. Proponents of the tax hike are pressuring general lawmakers to flex their muscles during the budget process, which will dominate the Capitol until the next fiscal year begins on April 1st.
Cuomo proposed a $ 193 billion spending plan that includes $ 1.5 billion from tax increases on people who report annual revenues of $ 5 million or more. But after describing the plan, he worried about its potentially negative consequences if wealthy people leave the state. Cuomo said the plan could be avoided if the U.S. Congress approves more state aid.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Yonkers Democrat, said last week that she would push for a tax increase regardless of the amount of federal funding. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Bronx Democrat, has previously voted to approve tax increases and has unsuccessfully pushed for rates to be raised in December.
If neither side moves, the result could be the first bicameral veto overturned during Mr Cuomo’s three terms.