Gov. Andrew Cuomo Fights For Property Tax Cap
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo is telling New Yorkers that lobbyists are fiercely fighting his property tax proposal and he needs their help.
He says in a video message released Tuesday that taxpayers need to tell their state legislators to pass the cap or don't come home.
The popular Democrat's cap proposal would limit the growth in local property taxes to 2 percent annually or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. Local voters could override the cap with a 60-percent vote. A few exemptions of unforeseeable expenses could also suspend the cap.
"Believe it or not we pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation right here in New York -- it has to stop," Cuomo said. "Government must show the same fiscal discipline that every family and every business in this state must exercise."
In the video, Cuomo says politicians are against the tax cap because it "limits their power."
He says it is up to the people to overpower the lobbyists and "make their voice heard."
The governor kicked off a statewide tour in in Syracuse Tuesday pushing his administration's top priorities, including the legalization of gay marriage. The tour is scheduled to continue through the final weeks of the legislative session which ends in late June.
Cuomo is expected to focus on the property tax in upstate stops and on Long Island, where the issue has long been a priority of residents. The gay marriage bill he favors is expected to continue to be an issue in New York City, where support has been strongest in polls.
Cuomo is also expected to push for his ethics reform measure, which is being negotiated with legislative leaders in closed-door sessions. No bill or draft has yet been released for the measure, which would be aimed at forcing greater disclosure of income and higher standards for lawmakers.
Meanwhile, Cuomo continues to make gains among voters as a moderate they feel is mostly making good on his promises to fix Albany, according to a NY1/YNN-Marist College poll released Monday.
The poll finds 64 percent of New Yorkers feel he is fulfilling his campaign promises after four months on the job.
His job approval rating has also risen to 54 percent and he is gaining among Democrats and Republicans as well as in the New York City suburbs and upstate.
Marist poll Director Lee Miringoff says the poll shows Cuomo is off to a strong start.
The poll questioned 758 registered voters April 25 through April 29. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
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