Weekly Wrap-Up

Let’s close this week with a new blog feature, and a look at some interesting poll numbers...

We now have a “Conservative Call to Action” on the blog – a place that we’ll be updating frequently, that will tell you about a hot issue that is up for debate in Albany... so you can call members of the state Senate and Assembly and tell them where you stand as a voter and taxpayer.

Now, the polls... Shaun Marie noted this earlier in the week here on the blog, and in a Conservative Party press release: Most New Yorkers understand what the Conservative Party has been saying for years... that spending is the problem.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02192009/news/regionalnews/take_knife_to_state_budget__not_taxpayer_155885.htm

According to the Post, “More New Yorkers back spending cuts than tax hikes in the battle over how to close next year's projected $14 billion budget deficit, according to a poll released yesterday.”

Sheldon Silver isn’t listening... he’s pushing for higher taxes – supposedly just on “the rich,” but we know that more and more of us would fall into that category if the politicians get creative enough.

But even some Democrats are put out by Sheldon’s devotion to higher taxes. Most notably, Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, who believes that higher taxes will chase even more people out of our state:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/02122009/news/regionalnews/top_senate_dem_attax_silver_plan_154774.htm

“Obviously, taxes have the ability to shift people’s desires and interests,” Smith notes. “I’m not sure that we want to explore that possibility by instituting an income tax and then wait to see what happens.”

Can we get Sen. Smith to teach some of his fellow liberals how the world really works?

Quinnipiac University also released poll numbers this past Tuesday showing that Gov. David Paterson is in deep trouble with the voters of this state:

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=771128&category=REGION

The big findings: Andrew Cuomo would best Paterson 55 percent to 23 percent in a Democratic primary. And the Governor’s job approval rating dropped to just 45 percent – his lowest as governor – with a 41 percent disapproval rating.

It’s not hard to imagine why New Yorkers aren’t sold on Gov. Paterson. Seems like every single day there’s a new scandal. The latest: Big pay raises for political appointees, at a time of fiscal disaster for our state – and at a time when Gov. Paterson has proposed more than $4 billion in new fees and taxes...

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/02/16/2009-02-16_political_appointees_in_new_york_still_g.html

But on this question, Mr. Cuomo can’t hit Gov. Patterson with too much criticism. According to this article, Cuomo dished out 15 raises totaling $108,000 – and “all but three of the raises went to assistant attorneys general, many of whom made well over $100,000.”

As I told the Daily News: “You solve the deficit problems before you consider raising people’s salaries.”

Check out this week’s survey question, which is based on the following article:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/02/18/2009-02-18_queens_homeowner_pleads_i_need_your_help.html

Some headline: “Queens homeowner pleads: I need your help, President Obama”... Do you think this guy deserves to be helped out with your tax dollars, after he bought more house than he can afford, and ran up huge credit card bills?

Vote today... and of course, have a great weekend!