LATIMER ON ASSEMBLY PASSAGE OF CIRCUIT BREAKER BILL

(August 19, 2008) "Today, the choice in the State Assembly was clear: do you want to CUT property taxes, or merely CAP property taxes? I voted today, along with 117 of my colleagues - including 18 Republican Assembly members - to pass a bill (A.11838) that:

* Provides immediate tax cuts for the majority of middle-income
homeowners

* Affects all property taxes (school, county and municipal) not
just school taxes alone

* Includes benefits for renters as well as homeowners

* Positively impacts people earning $250,000 or less in annual
income

* Does not risk negative effects to local school districts

The bill we passed today represents a fair, balanced approach to cutting property taxes -- and I urge the Senate to join us in this action. The Suozzi Commission called for three outcomes, and this tax cut plan (known in government circles as a 'circuit-breaker' bill) was one of them. Coupled with future actions in mandate relief and proper school funding, we can build a partnership that advances tax relief and maintains good education standards."

GEORGE LATIMER
Assemblyman, 91st A.D.