(Washington, D.C.) – The 55,000 members and supporters of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) in New York today called upon the State Legislature to oppose the numerous tax increases being suggested for the 2003-2004 state legislative budget and instead find a way to reduce wasteful spending in government.

“New Yorkers are already coping with the adverse effects of a slow-moving economy.  The state has a deficit of $11.5 billion,” CCAGW President Tom Schatz stated in a letter to state senators.  “To saddle New Yorkers with a hike in the state sales tax and the income tax is unnecessary and irresponsible.  Tax hikes in any form are job-killers and will serve only to worsen the state’s economy.  There is plenty of bloat in the state budget to cut.  Legislators should first look to reducing spending on their own pork-barrel ‘member items’ and not automatically reach into the pockets of taxpayers to cover a budget shortfall.”

CCAGW advocates the creation of a state Grace Commission—modeled after President Reagan's Private Sector Survey on Cost Control—to scour every nook and cranny of the state budget for waste, fraud, and abuse.  Implementation of such an aggressive cost-cutting regimen would usher in a new era of fiscal responsibility and negate the need to raise taxes.

“Governor Pataki crafted a fiscally sound budget without relying on massive tax increases, financial gimmicks or wasteful spending,” Schatz concluded.  “We urge the Senate to follow the Governor’s lead and enact a state budget that will continue to grow the state economy and create much-needed jobs and investment throughout the state without raising taxes.”

CCAGW is conducting an e-mail campaign urging New Yorkers to contact their state senators to support the Governor’s budget and oppose any tax increases at www.cagw.org.

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.