Blog

New York’s state revenues are disproportionately generated in New York City and its suburbs, resulting in a net transfer of income to upstate, according to a report issued today by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. Read More

In a landmark case revolving around key provisions of New York’s Freedom of Information Law, the Empire Center is asking the state’s highest court to review lower-court rulings that would enable the New York City Police Pension Fund — and, potentially, the state’s other public pension systems, as well — to keep secret the names of retired employees receiving taxpayer-guaranteed pension benefits. Read More

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli appeared at the New School in Manhattan last night to present what his office billed as “A Vision for the Future of Retirement Security in New York. Read More

Here's some more evidence of how Gov. Cuomo's 29 percent personal income-tax hike for top earners is a risky proposition for New York City. In response to a request from City Councilman James Oddo, the city's Independent Budget Office (IBO) . T Read More

A new to promote employment for unemployed inner-city youth was part of this week’s tax increase deal between Governor Cuomo and the Legislature. Like the rest of Wednesday’s legislative package, the youth employment Read More

Gov. Cuomo's tax-hike package -- according to him -- is an "extraordinary benefit to the state ... that the state desperately, desperately needs to help turn around this economy." E.J.'s been covering all the reasons why and turn around "this eco Read More

Just a few weeks ago, Gov. Andrew Cuomo was trying to get the “Occupy Albany” tent people arrested. This week, he hasn’t just caved to their main demand—he’s also begun to sound more like them. Read More

E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center on a segment of NY1's "Inside City Hall" last night. E.J. began by informing moderator Errol Lewis that Governor Cuomo's  with the Legislature involves a significant tax increase, not a tax cut. Read More

Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders have just announced a deal on a major increase in the state income tax rates compared to what is scheduled under current law — i.e., the official breaking of the Cuomo promise not to raise taxes. Read More

A 21st Century Rip Van Winkle, awakening after a two-year catnap, might assume based on this morning’s newspaper headlines that David Paterson had been elected governor in 2010. But after rubbing his eyes and donning his reading glasses, old Rip would discover that the governor now getting ready to execute an 180-degree turn on taxes — just as Paterson did in 2009 — is none other than Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Read More

Governor Cuomo’s tax-hike spin machine is in overdrive. The governor just issued an “op-ed” on tax reform that claims the state’s current income tax code “is just not fair,” implying strongly that filers with low-incomes pay taxes at the same rate as millionaires. Read More

, the Empire Center's senior fellow and frequent blogger on this site, discussed state tax issues Wednesday on YNN's "Capital Tonight" program with Liz Benjamin.  Also appearing was Michael Kink, a leading advocate of higher taxes. . Read More