Cuomo, New York lawmakers vote for tax hike

The debate over raising taxes as part of New York’s budget is shaping up to be a test of how far Democrats in the state legislature will go to take on their party partner, Governor Andrew Cuomo.

After last year’s election, Democrats have a two-thirds majority in both the state assembly and the Senate – enough to override a governor’s veto. Supporters of the tax hike are pushing grassroots lawmakers to beef up during the budget process, which will dominate the Capitol until the next fiscal year begins on April 1.

Mr. Cuomo proposed a $ 193 billion spending plan that includes $ 1.5 billion from increased taxes on people filing $ 5 million or more in annual income. But a breath after outlining the plan, he worried about its potentially negative consequences if the rich leave the state. Mr Cuomo said the plan can be avoided if the US Congress approves more state aid.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a Democrat from Yonkers, said last week she would push for a tax hike regardless of the amount of federal funding. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat from the Bronx, has already voted to approve the tax hikes and unsuccessfully pushed for a rate hike in December.

If neither side moves, the result could be the first reversal of the bicameral veto during Mr. Cuomo’s three terms.