PLATFORM

Over the course of my campaign I will be focusing on these issues. You may have read them on other sites and other papers. These issues are not unique but part of the Republican platform and I agree with these issues and what needs to be done in the New York State Assembly.

Reduce Medicaid Spending - Our state leads the nation in Medicaid spending

Per pupil educational spending is among the highest in the nation.

Reduce the property tax burden - We need to reduce the property tax burden placed on homeowners and businesses. This is essential to the growth and success of New York’s economy.

Eliminate gas taxes - We pay the highest gasoline taxes.
We need to eliminate the gas tax saving taxpayers a little more than $.30 per gallon.

Rein in Medicaid costs - reduce property taxes by reining in Medicaid costs.

Attract and retain small businesses and manufacturers - We need incentives to attract and retain small businesses and manufacturers.
We also need to reduce the cost of doing business in the state by cutting business taxes, reducing energy costs and making health care more affordable.

Limit Property Tax Hikes – We need to control property tax increases by preventing school district tax levies from increasing by more than 4 percent annually or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower.
I have read that it is estimated that homeowners and businesses would realize approximately $1.5 billion in savings by limiting the growth of the school property tax levy for the 2008-09 school year. Had this tax levy limit been in place in 2006, taxpayers statewide would have saved almost $1.3 billion.

Create the Office of State Inspector General for Education – I agree with Leader Tedisco that New York needs to create an Office of State Inspector General for Education to investigate financial abuse, corruption and misconduct in schools. This new and independent state agency will have broad authority to investigate financial abuses in schools, allegations of corruption or other misconduct within the district.

Reduce Medicaid Costs on Local Governments – This would allow overtaxed and overburdened county governments to return the cost savings in the form of lower property taxes.

Combat Medicaid Fraud, Waste, & Abuse - Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse are estimated to cost New York taxpayers nearly $4.5 billion annually. We need a program that would recover this loss.

Local Government Consolidation - The goal is to reduce local governments’ dependence on property taxes by encouraging the consolidation of services where possible. This would also include health insurance plans.

Health Savings Accounts - to foster the development of Heath Savings Accounts in New York. This would provide a choice for citizens seeking new and innovative ways to manage their health care costs.

Representing The Hard-Working Citizens of NYS

How the party and electoral politics are changing: “Things are changing…the day of the white shirt, red tie, and blue suit are over…voters are looking to elect someone they can relate to.” This is what was said by GOP Chairman Mondello when he talked with reporters after his meeting with the county GOP Chairs.

My decision to run for the assembly is based on my belief that our state government is in desperate need of a more balanced representation of the hard working, ‘everyday’ taxpayer. The continued policy of ‘tax and spend’ and the continued constraints on the business environment have left the average wage earner and small business entrepreneur without a voice in our state’s policies and well being.
It is my purpose to run a ‘grass-roots’ campaign representing citizens like myself, who are working hard to raise a family and survive in today’s economic environment. I am interested in the concerns affecting all of us, regardless of our social status, and want to represent you and fight for those issues in our state assembly.

Revision to "Budget Will Hurt Most New Yorkers"

I am revising my last press statement with regards to the “Budget will hurt most New Yorkers.” It has come to my attention that I may have confused some of you. Allow me to clarify a few things. The fact that we have a 4.7% increase in spending, have roughly $4 billion deficit, and then to increase bank fees, credit card fees, health insurance premiums to pay for an inflated budget I find a bit disturbing. We are directly and indirectly taxing the middle class, hard working, average citizen and making it even harder for these people to live in New York. To say that I was bashing AMD or that I was railing against AMD, is an error. I was using them as an example. I am all for getting more corporations to move here so we can stop and eventually reverse the “brain drain” of young professionals.

We also need to protect the small business by giving them the some of the same breaks we give large corporations. I truly believe that the small business is the backbone to the U.S. economy.

I do believe we need to allow more companies the ability to create more jobs. I just don’t want to do it on the back of the already overburdened, overtaxed New Yorker. I want to alleviate that burden. We are the #1 with regards to property taxes in the country. The last time I checked we rank 3rd in gas tax. We need to stop spending money we don’t have and serious cuts need to be made. The legislatures’ belts need to be tightened, and New York citizens should hold accountable those who continue to spend without regard to fiscal responsibility.

One way I believe we can “lighten the load” on taxpayers is to put a CAP on state spending and theoretically analyze state programs to eliminate unnecessary overlap departments and redundant staff. Then we need to reduce state spending and allow the people of New York to keep their money. Which this in turn will allow people to spend more money which will create more revenue for the New York state.
My objective is to represent citizens like myself, who are working hard to raise a family and survive in today’s economic environment. I am interested in the concerns affecting all of us, regardless of our social status, and want to represent you and fight for those issues in our state assembly.