Without compromise, there's chaos

Although not scheduled to return to Albany until the new year, members of the State Assembly and Senate were called back for a special session on Dec. 6 to vote on Governor Cuomo’s proposed economic plan.

After making a campaign promise of no new taxes, together with both houses of the state government, Cuomo passed a comprehensive and bipartisan plan that overhauled our current tax codes. Many chided him for reneging on his promise, and as a conservative Republican who happens to support the governor, I should be disappointed. However, this is Albany and, alas, someone is finally getting things done.

Instead, I’m proud.

Cuomo has proven he is willing to make concessions, and as a result, things aren’t just getting done; they’re getting done in a timely fashion — a foreign concept in Albany.

Essentially, the plan creates new tax brackets. Married couples making less than $300,000 a year will get a tax cut. Couples making more than $2 million will receive a 2 percent tax increase. This will bring in an estimated $1.9 billion in additional revenue by 2014 while allowing the middle class to save $690 million.

The deal will also lower the dreaded MTA payroll tax by $250 million. Although it wasn’t abolished, its reduction will offer relief to Long Island’s small-business community.

Our Republican Senate Majority leader, Dean Skelos, of Rockville Centre, and the Democratic Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver, both quickly supported the plan because it truly is a win-win for both sides. Skelos maintained that the proposed “millionaire’s tax,” which would have raised taxes for couples making more than $250,000, wasn’t truly a millionaire’s tax for Long Islanders.

By passing this deal, Republicans can reject the idea that they’re trying to protect the very wealthy. Rather, by passing a middle-class tax cut and slashing the MTA payroll tax, they can make the case that they are fighters for the middle class.

Silver, a proponent of the millionaire’s tax, is happy because the additional revenue will likely be spent on education and health-care programs, which will keep his voting base happy as well.

I recently heard a lawmaker tell supporters that when he left Albany, he immediately wanted to take a shower.