Fix Albany

Republican or Democrat - this website is worth checking out "What is Fix Albany?

Fix Albany is a Political Committee created to reform New York State government, and keep Albany legislators accountable for their actions. New York state's elected officials in Albany are engaged in unfair legislative practices that directly and adversely affect local taxpayers. Our local taxes (primarily property taxes) are 72% above the national average because our representatives in Albany have forced the costs of huge expenditures, like Medicaid, onto county governments. In most other states, these programs are far less expensive because they are handled more efficiently at the state level, with state money. Our state representatives in Albany give themselves pats on the backs for passing politically popular programs, and then they shift the cost off the State's books and onto the local governments. Along with other unfunded mandates, Medicaid is the best example of this unfair and irresponsible governing. New York's Medicaid program is the most expensive one in the United States - two and a half times the national average. The fact is many of our legislators in Albany have been more focused on preserving power and the status quo than on solving problems, like capping the costs local counties must pay for Medicaid. In the past 22 years, there have been close to 2,300 reelection campaigns for the State Legislature. In that time, only 30 incumbent legislators have been defeated less than 1.5%. Moreover, this incumbent body has failed to pass an on-time budget for a record 20 years. We need drastic reform in Albany. The Fix Albany Political Committee will create awareness of the problems our Albany incumbents have created for local taxpayers and work constructively to change their practices by holding them accountable to the voters of New York.

Upstate is in a crisis, and nothing but strong reform out of Albany will fix it. Upstate is not Metropolitan New York, and it shouldn't be subjected to rules and regulations designed for that area. Upstate is unique politically and economically. Just think about this: Massachusetts, commonly referred to as "Taxachusetts", has a 5% sales tax, tax-free sales of clothes up to a certain amount, and a flat 5.25% state income tax. Doesn't that sound just dreamy compared to the New-York-State-cup-in-its-hand way of running things? How about this for another idea? In the mid-1990s, then-Governor Bill Weld ordered the Mass Pike to let cars go through the tolls without paying whenever the backups at tolls became excessive. New York would never dream of giving up a few pennies like that. At the same time, Governor Weld abolished certain tolls on the Pike extension from Newton (where you gave up your ticket) into Boston. Black Rock and South Buffalo, are you listening? Finally, for the rural western part of Massachusetts, tolls were abolished altogether. Once the toll reaches about $3.15 in Springfield, everything west of that is toll-free. Whether you exit in Springfield or Lee, you pay $3.15 max, coming from Boston. Just a little fairness. A little relief. A little pick-me-up for those of us brave and/or foolish enough to stick it out around here.